The Season 4 of Counter-Strike 2 has officially launched with an update that shook the competitive scene and divided opinions among casual and pro players alike. With changes to the active duty map pool, weapon tweaks, and refinements to movement and matchmaking, Valve has once again shown it wants to accelerate the game’s evolution, even if it means making controversial decisions.

Map pool: Anubis returns and Train exits the rotation

Without doubt the most talked-about change of Season 4 was the replacement of Train with the return of Anubis in the active duty map pool for Premier mode. Train, which remained in competitive rotation for just under a year, exits the main list and makes way for Anubis, which had been removed about six months earlier.

As a player, I see this change with mixed feelings. On one hand, Anubis’s return brings freshness and underscores the need to readapt strategies, something that has always been part of Counter-Strike. On the other hand, removing Train so quickly after its recent introduction gives the impression that Valve is recycling choices without giving them enough time to mature at a competitive level.

Weapon balancing and meta decisions

Among the gameplay adjustments in Season 4, notable are the slight buffs to SMGs like the MP7 and MP5-SD, as well as the reduced price of the PP-Bizon, changes that encourage varied tactical options rather than the traditional focus on heavy rifles.

Personally, I find this direction interesting, as it encourages creativity and diversification in CS2’s classic economic combat. However, I still feel the changes are too minor to fundamentally alter competitive pacing at high levels, something many players have been calling for since Season 3.

Refined movement and matchmaking

Another notable adjustment was the revision of movement mechanics, including changes to the jump system that ease stamina penalties and refine landing timings, this can open space for more precise plays and advanced techniques in the competitive meta.