A new season of Premier in Counter-Strike 2 is starting, and it’s time to play and earn your new Medal! This update could significantly change how the game is played.
Anubis is back in the regular map rotation, and the game has been updated with some changes. The cost of SMG weapons has been lowered, and their stats have been tweaked. For players who compete in CS2, the new Premier Season 4 offers a chance to climb the ranks and earn a higher rating.
SMG changes: MP5-SD and MP7
Two submachine guns (SMGs) got slight adjustments in CS2. They are MP7 and MP5-SD.
- The basic damage has been increased.
- The damage fall-off over time is smaller now.
- Both guns cost $100 less.
While the MP5-SD and MP7 could work in anti-eco or force-buy rounds, most teams find the MP9 (for Counter-Terrorists) and MAC-10 (for Terrorists) to be better options. It will take some time to see how recent damage increases change which weapons are most popular in competitive play.
PP-Bison is cheaper
If you like SMGs with large magazines and fast firing speeds, and you’re skilled at compensating for lower damage and weaker armor penetration, the PP-Bison is a solid choice. It’s also now $100 cheaper.
There are no damage adjustments for this gun.
Refreshed Anubis
The biggest question surrounding the new CS2 update was whether Anubis would be suitable for competitive play. The official update notes confirm that Anubis has returned, along with some adjustments.
- With this update, Train is officially out of the CS2 Active Duty map pool.
Community maps rotation
Counter-Strike 2 has removed four maps – Golden, Palacio, Agency, and Rooftop – from all game modes. They’ve been replaced with new maps, which are:
- Warden, Stronghold, and Alpine in Casual, Competitive, and Deathmatch modes.
- Sanctum and Poseidon in Wingman.
All skins in the Harlequin collection
This new CS2 skin collection is clearly inspired by Harley Quinn from DC Comics. The skins use a similar bright and colorful art style, even on the more common weapons.
| Rarity level | Harlequin skins |
|---|---|
| Classified | M4A1-S | Party Animal |
| Restricted | AWP | Exothermic USP-S | Sleeping Potion |
| Mil-Spec | Zeus x27 | Earth Mandala UMP-45 | Warm Blooded Galil AR | Sky Mandala Five-SeveN | Fraise Crane |
| Industrial | XM1014 | XoooM Tec-9 | Banana Leaf SSG 08 | Calligrafaux MP7 | Coral Paisley MP5-SD | Picnic |
| Consumer | Sawed-Off | Crimson Batik SG 553 | Safari Print R8 Revolver | Mauve Aside PP-Bizon | Thermal Currents MP9 | Bee-Tron FAMAS | Byproduct CZ75-Auto | Honey Paisley |
All CS2 skins in the Achroma Collection
These Counter-Strike weapon skins look great because of their detailed designs layered over a simple black and white base.
| Rarity level | Achroma skins |
|---|---|
| Classified | AWP | The End |
| Restricted | AK-47 | Breakthrough Glock-18 | Trace Lock |
| Mil-Spec | AUG | Creep Desert Eagle | The Daily Deagle P2000 | Grip Tape P90 | Aeolian Light |
| Industrial | FAMAS | Vendetta M4A4 | Aeolian Dark MAC-10 | Snow Splash MP5-SD | Snow Splash R8 Revolver | Dark Chamber |
| Consumer | PP-Bizon | Bizoom Dual Berettas | Silver Pour M249 | Sleet Nova | Currents MP9 | Dizzy P250 | Sleet SCAR-20 | Zinc SSG 08 | Sans Comic |
- With the addition of two new collections, a few others are out of the Weekly Care Package drops: Safehouse, Dust 2, 2028 Inferno, and 2028 Nuke Collection.
AK-47 | Aphrodite in Armory
A special AK-47 skin, called ‘Aphrodite,’ has been added to Counter-Strike 2 as a reward for completing challenges in the Armory. Each AK-47 | Aphrodite has a unique look, varying based on its specific pattern and wear level.
The CS2 Premier Season 4 update also includes improvements to in-game sounds, weapon visual effects, the ability to perform technical jumps, and helpful map guides.
Okay, so the changes to Anubis and the SMGs are going to shake things up for everyone, even the pros in CS2 esports. We’re talking about seeing these updates in action at IEM Krakow 2026, which runs from January 28th to February 8th. I’m really curious to see how this new build impacts the competitive scene!
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2026-01-22 13:12