New CS2 update's pre-release shipped

Switching things up, Valve has just shipped a new beta depot to Counter-Strike 2. The depot contains a pre-release build of the game's next big update which the community can opt into and try out. The build “1.41.1.3-rc1” can be accessed from the game's settings on Steam. Here's how to do it:

Right click on Counter-Strike 2 --> Properties --> Betas --> Beta Participation --> “1.41.1.3-rc1”

The pre-release build runs Counter-Strike with the engine code updated to the latest version of Source 2 alongside several codebase changes to reduce CPU usage like bullet penetration simulation, client-side particle and sound effects procession among others. As far as gameplay is concerned, the C4 defuse mechanism now lowers the first person weapon model to prevent scoping in while defusing and adding a 150 milliseconds delay to firing weapons when on the defuse.

Damage prediction gets a slight logic adjustment to take into account an incorrectly subtracted tick while calculating "sv_predictable_damage_tag_ticks". Several UI changes have been deployed to the spectator screen and the HUD. The community has found several strings in today's update mentioning UI updates for the retake gamemode, new icons for ammunition and a new journal system under "CCSGameJournal". The community quickly linked this to Counter-Strike's older operations like Vanguard and Bloodhound where players could access an "Operation Book" that worked like a journal to track operation progress and stats.

Here are Valve's pre-release notes:

ENGINE

• Updated engine code to the latest version of Source 2.

• Reworked bullet penetration simulation to reduce CPU usage.

• Improved core utilization of some client particle and sound effects processing, reducing overall CPU usage when players are shooting.

GAMEPLAY

• Defusing C4 will now lower the viewmodel weapon, prevent scoping, and delay firing the weapon by 150ms after exiting the defuse.

• Fixed a case where 1 tick was incorrectly subtracted from sv_predictable_damage_tag_ticks.

UI

• Major Highlight clips are now viewable from the Spectator Loadout.

• Selected player is now more visible in the Team Counter.

• Context menu in the Inventory now opens in a position relative to the cursor.

• HUD weapon mode indicator has been moved to the ammo count.

MAP SCRIPTING

• cs_script enums can now be imported and behave the same as TypeScript enums.

• CSWeaponType.PISTOL == 1

• CSWeaponType(1) == "PISTOL"

• Added enums CSRoundEndReason, CSHitGroup, CSLoadoutSlot, CSDamageTypes, CSDamageFlags and CSWeaponAttackType

• Added BOOSTS value to CSGearSlot. This is the gear slot for healthshots.

• Updated Instance.OnRoundEnd to now receive the reason

• Updated Instance.OnBeforePlayerDamage to now receive damageType and damageFlags and the result can now modify damageType and damageFlags

• Updated Instance.OnPlayerDamage to now receive damageType and damageFlags

• Updated Instance.OnKnifeAttack to now receive attackType

• Updated Instance.TraceLine, Instance.TraceSphere and Instance.TraceBox

• The trace config now accepts an array of ignore entities or just one

• The trace config can specify to trace against hitboxes

• The trace result will include hitGroup if tracing against hitboxes

• Updated Instance.BulletTrace result to include hitGroup

• Updated Entity.TakeDamage to accept damageType and damageFlags

• Added CSWeaponData.GetGearSlot()