Big CS2 Gameplay Changes in A Call to Arms Update: Re-usable Zeus, Smoke Shadows, and More Gameplay Changes

CS2 has launched one of the massive updates for the game so far after its release in September 2023. A Call to Arms update has brought big changes to the title, including the Arms Race game mode, one of the beloved modes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's playlist. Alongside that, Valve has also made massive tweaks to the weapons like Zeus.  The Arms Race update has also brought two new maps to the game: Baggage and Shoots. After years of community feedback, the update also buffed the Zeus by making it reusable in all game modes, including competitive and Premier. 

Also read: CS2 Gets Option Disable Tracers, Custom Sticker Placement, And New Music Kit In Latest Update

All CS2 A Call to Arms Update Patch Notes and Gameplay Changes

One of the biggest changes made to the game is the Zeus update. The least used equipment in CS2's arsenal is now a reusable weapon with a 30-second recharge delay. The changes made to the Zeus are as follows:

ZEUS

• Made Zeus reusable in all game modes after a 30-second recharge delay
• Added support for applying stickers and name tags to the Zeus
• Adjusted the Zeus first-person model position
• Added Zeus kill icon to kill cards and post-round damage report

Another huge update is the Smoke changes in Counter-Strike 2. Smokes will now cast shadows on the ground, whilst also rendering the smoke. Animations for the smoke cloud are also improved:

SMOKE

• Smokes now cast shadows
• Smoke rendering and animation have been improved

Gameplay in CS2 has also seen some improvements with A Call to Arms update. The patch added a new "Refund All" button, which will refund all the weapons bought in the buy phase. The update also adds a setting to disable the first-person tracers from weapons.  Alongside that, the update also fixes many gameplay issues like the silent drops on vertical surfaces. 

GAMEPLAY

• Added a "Refund All" button to the buy menu
• Added a setting to disable first-person bullet tracers
• Silencers can now always be reattached regardless of whether detaching them is enabled or not
• Player pings are no longer blocked by invisible geometry
• Various adjustments to sub-tick shooting
• Fixed several cases where players could silently drop down vertical surfaces
• Improved smoothness of sliding along surfaces
• Fixed an issue where collisions between players were jittery
• To ensure load-outs are correct at the beginning of matches, loadout changes are no longer allowed while searching for Premier, Competitive, or Wingman