Valve Corporation has given a hint about the upcoming launch of the new Counter-Strike 2 with a sly Tweet. The game had a limited, closed beta testing period that kicked off in March when it was first announced. Based on the company's initial promise, the game was set to be available to everyone during the summer. Given this, a Tweet from the official Counter-Strike account is being perceived as a suggestion of the fast-approaching release date.

The Tweet reads, "What are you doing next Wednesday?", hinting at a release date of September 27th. If this isn't another public beta testing or a step towards the official launch, it's inferred that this could be the actual launch date. The follow-up to the classic competitive shooter, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Counter-Strike 2 is anticipated to introduce new mechanics, a changed ranking system, improved audio, and more.

Significantly, it will introduce the concept of reactive smoke in gameplay. Smoke clouds in the game will now be able to respond to the environment and won't clip through objects. Players can sculpt through them simply by shooting. The improvements also extend to the game maps with some being remade, and others being refurbished.

Given the popularity of the original game on Steam, Counter-Strike 2, being a free upgrade, is expected to give the series another significant boost in popularity. It's yet to be determined if players and streamers from Valorant, another popular esports shooter, will transition to Counter-Strike 2 after its anticipated release.