Stumped about how to join community servers in Counter-Strike 2? We have the solution here. Read on to learn more about how joining matches has changed since the new entry was released.
After a period of hopeful speculation from series fans, Counter-Strike 2 finally launched on September 27. The new entry from Valve offers up a series of remastered maps , improved gameplay, and a brand-new achievement to earn when you get started in your first match. That said, those who have downloaded the shooter remain a bit confused about how they can join community servers and enter matches. The process has changed a bit from CS:GO, which hosted its own servers. Here’s how to join in CS2.
CS2 community servers are now hosted by Steam. This means you won’t be able to join within the game’s main menu in the usual means as you would in old CS:GO. If you’re looking to link up with other players in CS2, you’ll first need to find the server you want to join on Steam. This can be done for any game mode, whether you’re looking to play an FFA Deathmatch, 1v1 Arena, or Retake. Servers can differ in ticks, latency, player count, and ping so be careful which one you choose.
Once you’ve chosen a server, you’ll have to copy the IP address of the server and launch CS2. In the game (while on the main screen, for example), press the ~ key to open console commands. If this doesn’t work, then you’ll first need to enable the developer console in your settings. This is located in your Game tab.
With the command enabled you can then paste the chosen server’s IP address. Press enter to confirm. If successful, you’ll be loaded directly into the server. You can also save the server in your Favorites tab.
Note that this exact method can’t be used to play custom maps. If attempted, you won’t be able to join the game. Instead, you’ll receive an error message that reads: Map was not found .
For more on Counter-Strike 2, check out these additional guides from our team: How to Get the Hidden Achievement in Counter Strike 2 – Unlocking A New Beginning , How to Download CS2? Guide to Download and Play Counter-Strike 2 , and How to Transfer Skins in CS2 .