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Ex-Valorant Pro TenZ Critiques Valve’s Treatment of Counter-Strike 2

Former Valorant professional player TenZ has expressed his dissatisfaction with Valve’s apparent neglect of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), likening its treatment to that of an “adopted child” while the company’s new hero-shooter game, Deadlock, garners more attention and resources.

The build-up to CS2’s launch in September 2023 generated extensive hype among fans; however, a year later, criticisms have arisen regarding the lack of meaningful updates. Players have voiced their frustrations, highlighting the infrequency of patches and improvements to the game, with some professional gamers even predicting it could take up to six years for CS2 to reach its full potential.

In contrast, Valve’s focus appears to have shifted to Deadlock, which launched in 2024. This hero-shooter MOBA hybrid has reportedly received substantial updates regularly, even in its early access phase. Players have benefit from swift resolutions to critical issues, the introduction of new characters, and adaptive changes to gameplay, all under active communication from the development team.

During a Twitch stream on September 30, TenZ openly criticized Valve’s oversight of CS2. A viewer echoed the sentiment by questioning the transition to CS2 without substantial follow-up support, further wondering about Valve’s future plans for the game. TenZ did not hold back in his response, emphasizing the minimal progress made since the sequel’s release.

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“The move primarily involved porting it to the Source 2 engine,” TenZ remarked before adopting a tone of sarcasm to articulate his disappointment. “They can claim they’ve done something with it, but you just have to look at Deadlock to see the stark contrast in development. It has received multiple feature-rich patches, complete with new content and gameplay enhancements, while CS seems to have barely been acknowledged.”

As CS2’s first anniversary passed without much fanfare or celebration, TenZ highlighted this neglect, asserting that the game has effectively been sidelined in favor of Deadlock. He drew parallels, suggesting that Valve’s treatment of CS2 resembles how it has historically approached Team Fortress 2—part of a broader pattern of disregard for its established franchises.

Reiterating his standpoint, TenZ noted that Valve’s leadership, specifically President Gabe Newell, seems to exhibit greater enthusiasm for the MOBA genre rather than first-person shooters. He remarked on Newell’s notable absence from critical CS tournaments compared to his presence at numerous Dota 2 events, further solidifying the claim that CS2 may not be a priority for Valve.

As players look to the future, the community remains anxious about Valve’s plans for CS2. With frequent updates for Deadlock, the disparity in attention and development resources is increasingly clear, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the beloved franchise.

Source
www.dexerto.com