CS2's Iconic Dust 2 Map Gets Small Change with Huge Gameplay Impact
Dust 2, one of the most popular maps for Counter-Strike 2, received a minor update. The change, however, could have quite an impact on the game's balance.
Dust 2 is one of the most iconic maps found in Counter-Strike 2. David Johnston created it over 23 years ago, and it made its first appearance in the game in version 1.1. For two decades it remained largely unchanged, but the latest update may significantly affect its balance.
If you have been playing CS since the dawn of time, you certainly already know the most popular tactics on individual maps by heart. On the famous de_dust2 map, to reach the so-called "short" from the CT side, another player could have helped us by boosting. This technique has always worked well and has been extremely effective, significantly shortening the path required to walk.
In the latest update, a box was added in the mentioned place, which eliminated the need for boosting. It's probably needless to say that this is a significant advantage for counter-terrorists, not just at the start of the round, but also when attempting to retake the "BS." The CT side player will no longer need a teammate to jump in, so the terrorists will have an additional place to check while defending the ticking bomb.
The change may appear insignificant, but its impact on the so-called "winrate" could be extremely important. It's worth noting that currently, according to statistics, terrorists are winning more often on the Dust 2 map (via HLTV), so we'll see how this changes in the future.
Other changes brought by the update include minor adjustments to the Nuke, Assembly, and Memento maps, as well as the inclusion of official game servers in London.