New CS2 update adds Animgraph 2 Beta

Valve has released a new CS2 update that adds a brand-new Beta branch of the game, which overhauls the animation system to the long-awaited Animgraph 2. The update represents a major jump forward, which started with the initial CS2 animation update back in August 2025.

CS2 Animgraph 2 Beta update is live now

According to Valve, the CS2 Animgraph 2 Beta update “reduces the CPU and networking costs associated with animation,” and represents a complete technical overhaul of the game’s animation system under the hood. As a result, all third-person animations have been re-authored and adjusted through player feedback.

Today we're shipping (or launching 🚀) a beta build that updates CS2's animation system to Animgraph 2. Learn more: https://t.co/FA9RCs0f1y

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) April 1, 2026

In practice, this should go a long way to making the game perform and feel as smooth as possible. Or, like many want, ‘more like CS:GO.’ It’s crucial at this point to remember that the CS2 Animgraph 2 update is still in Beta, and is not available in the main branch of the game.

How to get CS2 Animgraph 2 Beta

To opt in, players must head to CS2 in their Steam libraries and follow these steps:

• Right-click CS2 and head to Properties.
• Open the “Game Versions & Betas” tab.
• Scroll down to the “animgraph_2_beta” option, and select it.
• Allow Steam to redownload the game.

After this, you will have access to the CS2 Animgraph 2 Beta, and can send feedback to Valve at [email protected]. Hopefuly, this will represent a huge step forward for the game going forward.

CS2 Animgraph 2 Beta Update Patch Notes (April 1st, 2026)

[ ANIMGRAPH 2 ]

The CS2 animation system has been updated to Animgraph 2, which reduces CPU and networking costs associated with animation.

• All third-person animations have been re-authored, and in several cases adjusted in response to player feedback.

• Smoothed in-air crouching transitions in first and third-person.

• In support of Animgraph 2, the logic adjusting player height on sloped surfaces has been refactored.

  • Player height on ramps is now consistent and no longer depends on approach direction.

  • As a result of this change, grenade lineups on sloped surfaces may have changed.

[ ENGINE ]

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

[ CS SCRIPT ]

• Added function GetRoundRemainingTime.

[ GAMEPLAY ] 

• Player occlusion now uses a GPU query to prevent players clipping through thin walls when none of their bounding volume is visible.

[ SOUND ]

• Mix adjustments to help accentuate jump landing sounds during combat.

• New c4 equip sound.

• Minor adjustments to ambient sound levels.

• Fixed missing ambient sounds on team selection and end of match screens.

• Fixed missing sounds in the main menu UI

• Mix tweaks while taking damage

• Fixed bug where DeathCam music cue was causing volume ducking for too long. 

• Vertical occlusion is now more gradual at the edges of transition points in Nuke and Vertigo.

• Various map audio adjustments in Baggage, Shoots, Ancient, Nuke, and Vertigo.

[ KNOWN ISSUES ]

• In some rare cases, when you turn your head there will be a slight unintended camera shift.