Last year, the release of Counter-Strike 2 led to a resurgence in popularity for Valve’s tactical first-person shooter franchise. A change of engine and a fresh coat of paint led to many of the game’s maps looking fresher than ever.
In Counter-Strike 2, the Active Duty map pool determines the maps used in esports tournaments, as well as what can be played in Premier Mode. The pool is usually updated every 6-12 months, rotating maps in and out to ensure that the game never feels stale.
Current Counter-Strike 2 Active Duty map pool
Here are the seven maps featured in Counter-Strike 2‘s Active Duty map pool at the moment:
- Ancient
- Anubis
- Dust 2
- Inferno
- Mirage
- Nuke
- Vertigo
Of the current Active Duty CS2 maps, Dust 2 is the most recent addition. It was previously removed in November 2022, before being reinstated in April 2024, replacing Overpass. Dust 2’s history spans as far back as 2001, so it’s a classic that keeps players coming back for more.
Valve tends to be secretive about Counter-Strike 2 updates. Because of this, we don’t quite know when the next update to the Active Duty map pool will come. Many CS2 professionals are outspoken about their dismay at the current selection of maps, so it might not be long before change comes along.
Competitive Counter-Strike 2 maps
Outside of the Active Duty map pool, there are also several CS2 maps that gamers can play in the Competitive playlist. While you can’t search for these maps in Premier Mode, they still offer a good time. When Valve decides to switch things up in the map pool, these are the maps it will choose from when not adding a new one.
Bomb Defusal
- Mills
- Overpass
- Thera
Hostage Rescue
- Italy
- Office
Some maps from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, such as Cache, Cobblestone, and Train, have yet to return. Valve has yet to confirm whether they will come back in a future Counter-Strike 2 update.
Published: Aug 8, 2024 10:39 am