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Counter-Strike 2 just got a fresh coat of paint, and a new lighting mood to match. In the latest update, Valve has rolled out nighttime versions of Ancient and Shoots, alongside some under-the-hood tweaks that could change the way matches play out.

For Ancient, the nighttime mode is available in Casual and Deathmatch, while Shoots’ after-dark look is tied to Arms Race.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen CS maps under the stars, modders have been making “night” variants since the 1.6 days, but Valve’s official version feels different. Instead of pitch-black shadows, there’s a soft, ambient glow from moonlight and candles, so you can still read the map without needing night vision goggles, like you would need in 1.6.

de_dust_night Mod for Counter-Strike 1.6 | CS1.6 Mods

Image Credit: Davej

The update isn’t just cosmetic. Ancient has had its materials refreshed to the latest CS2 shaders, giving surfaces a sharper, more realistic finish. Mapmakers are also getting new toys to play with, like blending options for moss and wet textures, which could make future Workshop creations look a whole lot more polished.

But here’s the bit Valve didn’t exactly headline: they’ve changed one of Ancient’s most common defensive angles. You can no longer hold A Main from deep inside Temple. That position was a favourite for AWPers looking to lock down the site without much risk. Now, if you want that pick, you’ll have to peek from the collapsed wall, meaning more risk for the same reward. It’s a small tweak on paper, but it could completely shift how A gets played at higher levels.

We won’t see these changes in Tier 1 matches until EWC in Riyadh, with Vitality tipped as favourites for yet another trophy. The current BLAST Bounty will wrap up on the old patch, so pros still have a few days to enjoy the “old” Ancient.

The patch also brings a bunch of quality-of-life improvements:

  • Better deploy and inspect animations for rifles, SMGs, shotguns, and knives.
  • A slick new M4A1-S skin called Solitude and the Deluge Music Kit Box.
  • Rendering performance boosts across most maps.
  • No more delay when Alt+Tabbing between 4:3 in-game and 16:9 on desktop.

And if you’re a sticker collector, BLAST.tv Austin Major capsules are now 75% off, perfect if you’ve been eyeing that golden King Mezii Champion sticker.

Overall, this update isn’t just about pretty lights and shaders. It’s a subtle shake-up that could have ripple effects in competitive play, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the Temple change ends up making A more vulnerable in the long run.