Will Counter-Strike 2 Come To Console? CS2 PS5 & Xbox Versions Explained

Counter-Strike 2 is one of the biggest PC games in the world. Its precision aiming is uniquely suited to a mouse and keyboard, and trying to play with a controller just ends in disaster. However, as the game grows in popularity, the question becomes more prominent: Will Counter-Strike 2 come to console?

Is CS2 on PS5 or Xbox?

As it stands, CS2 PS5 and Xbox versions aren’t a thing. Although you can technically play CS2 on Xbox and PlayStation controllers on the PC version, the game itself is not on consoles. Support for the game itself is bare enough, and it’s difficult to imagine Valve having the time to release Counter-Strike 2 Xbox or PlayStation versions and keep them updated, especially if the game fails to find an audience on console.

There is some hope, though. Those old enough to recall the launch of CS:GO will remember that it actually launched on Xbox 360 and PS3. The servers are still live to this day, but updates for the game stopped a very long time ago. It remains a unique time capsule for what early CS:GO was like, the caveat being that you have to play it with a controller. So while CS2 Xbox and PS5 versions feel like a bit of a pipe dream right now, it’s important to remember that if CS:GO can get a port, then a game even more popular can, too.

Would CS2 work on console?

For me, this is the biggest question mark about CS2 on console. It’s an era where gamers are chasing faster thrills than ever. Shooters like Fortnite and Apex Legends dominate, with fast-paced gameplay the norm. In this, CS2 PS5 and Xbox versions would be a total anomaly. A game that most would describe as uniquely slow-paced may not resonate with console players, and that’s okay.

There’s also the matter of aiming. Console FPS games only work because of aim assist, the thumbstick being too inaccurate for most players. That’s fine – it’s a restriction of the hardware. But Counter-Strike relies on that snappy aiming only possible with a mouse and keyboard. Aim assist would be incredibly controversial, and the idea of crossplay between PC and console CS2 players would essentially be dead on arrival. Will Counter-Strike 2 come to console? Be careful what you wish for.

It’s easy to say that Counter-Strike 2 will never come to console. It’s perhaps the sensible thing to say. But a renewed interest in the game is a powerful thing, so it’s difficult to say how Valve will react. But if CS2 PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions do ever come to fruition, it won’t be for a while. Valve is simply too busy with other endeavors at the moment. And with CS2 only really getting one major update every few months, tackling console ports does not seem high on the developer’s list of priorities.

For what it’s worth, console players should feel left out by Valve. When the move was made to CS2, Valve also dropped support for Counter-Strike on Mac, too, so it seems as though this is the result of the developer’s PC focus.