Why Is CS2 Disappointing for Esports Pros?

It’s been over a year and a half since the release of Counter-Strike 2. Some awaited this game with open hearts, others had doubts from the start. But the fact remains: the hype wave has long passed, and the number of disappointed players keeps growing. CS2’s problems — from its economy to its tickrate — are increasingly voiced not by casual players, but by professionals, for whom every round means money, results, and reputation.

On June 4, Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov, the captain of Team Spirit — currently participating in the ongoing BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, which is also available for free predictions through MelBet Pick’Em — shared his opinion. He directly named what annoys him in CS2 — and honestly, it’s not just his personal view. Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with dozens of pro players and coaches, and their feedback about CS2 sounds strikingly similar: disappointment, fatigue, and hope that Valve will finally wake up.

In this article, I’ll break down the main issues chopper pointed out, explain why they’re crucial specifically for the esports scene, and share what I’ve heard from players across different teams — unfiltered, just as it is.

The Opinion of Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov

Let’s first look at what Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov actually said. This isn’t just some random player — he’s the captain of Team Spirit, one of the most experienced figures on the CIS scene. He’s played in tons of CS tournaments, won many of them, and truly understands how competitive Counter-Strike should function. So when he talks about problems — it’s worth paying attention.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 1

Round System and Economy

The main downside of CS2 is 12 rounds per side, with the old economy. Because of this, in many matches, it’s possible to end up completely broke. This is the worst part of professional CS. Something has to be done with either the economy or the number of rounds.

There’s really nothing to add here — chopper clearly articulated what’s killing the competitive CS2 scene. Twelve rounds is not enough, and if the economy hasn’t changed, you simply have no margin for error. Lose one pistol round — and you’re already in the red, before the game even begins. I’ve seen teams give up after the first full-buy round. This isn’t game design — it’s a lottery. CS2 esports should be about tactics, adaptation, and fighting until the last second — not about “who won the coin flip.” CS2’s economy needs a serious rework, and in my opinion, we either need to bring back 15 rounds or completely rebalance the money system. Right now, it’s one of CS2’s most critical flaws.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 2

Tickrate Issues

The second issue is the tickrate. It would be way more interesting if it were 128.

CS2’s 64 tickrate feels like a slap in the face to the community. It’s 2025, and we’ve got a competitive game played on a world championship level — running on 64 tickrate, just like public servers from a decade ago. I don’t know how much more feedback Valve needs from pro players to understand that CS2 without 128 tickrate simply doesn’t feel like an esports product.

At 64 tickrate, shooting feels inconsistent, pings are more noticeable, and bullet registration feels random. This isn’t whining — these are real technical issues in CS2 that we’ve been living with for over a year. Everyone wants the game to feel clean and precise — that’s why 128 should be the standard. Anything else is a half-measure. CS2’s poor tickrate isn’t a “minor issue” — it’s a fundamental flaw that makes CS2 esports feel less professional than CS:GO did ten years ago.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 3

Other Complaints from Pros and Casual Players

We’ve already heard two of the main complaints from the well-known chopper — and they’re hard to argue with. But of course, CS2 has more than just two problems. So below, I’ll briefly go over five more of the most common complaints I’ve heard from both pro players and regular users.

1. Server Stability and Lag Issues

CS2 server issues are a never-ending pain. Matches lag, ping spikes, and sometimes the game just crashes mid-round. Even on tournament servers, things aren’t always stable. In 2025, this sounds like a joke, but CS2’s netcode still feels unfinished. I’ve talked to players from tier-1 and tier-2 teams — and they all complain about the same thing: server instability, lag, jittery shooting. How can you play for results in such conditions?

2. Poor Optimization for Low-End PCs

This is, without exaggeration, the most common complaint from millions of CS2 players. You could run CS:GO even on an office laptop — it was accessible to everyone. But now — CS2 lags, FPS drops, maps take over 30 seconds to load, and many people simply can’t run the game.

Players have written to me saying they were forced to upgrade their hardware just to enter matchmaking without freezing. And that’s absurd — CS2’s optimization is so poor that it cuts off a huge part of the audience that played the previous version for years. Even if you’re a die-hard fan, buggy and unstable CS2 just drains your will to play.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 4

3. Updated Graphics Aren’t Always a Plus

The graphics in CS2 are prettier — yes, no argument. But in reality, for competitive play, they’re more of a hindrance. I and many professional players have noticed that the visual changes hurt readability and control. The game should be clear, not just flashy.

Here’s what annoys most in CS2’s graphics:

Blinding glares and overexposed areas: Often, you can’t see enemies due to bright light sources — lighting in CS2 actively interferes with gameplay.
Too much visual clutter: Maps are overloaded with small objects — CS2’s visual noise breaks focus and distracts players.
Poor model readability: Character models often blend into the background, especially at long distances. This is a problem at any rank.
Misleading shadows and reflections: Due to shadows and effects, you often see fake movements — you think someone passed by, but there’s no one.

In the end — it looks nice, but playing has become less convenient, less precise, and less predictable, especially if you want to win in CS2, not just admire the textures.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 5

4. Molotovs and Smokes Feel Inconsistent

Molotovs and smokes in CS2 feel like they have a mind of their own. One time a smoke covers a path perfectly, the next — it sinks into a texture.

The grenade physics in CS2 may be more “realistic,” but this has made playing more difficult, especially at a serious level. You can’t build tactics if you’re not sure how your grenade will behave. This affects both pro matches and regular competitive games.

Why Is CS2 Disappointing 6

5. Matchmaking System Still Feels Broken

CS2’s matchmaking is the butt of many jokes. Opponent selection works strangely, Premier skill levels fluctuate from Silver to tier-2, and cheaters appear even on Faceit. Yes, MR12 was introduced, maps were changed, but the core of matchmaking remains broken.

In the end, it feels pointless to try hard when you’re matched with randoms and facing a coordinated semi-pro stack. This is one of the reasons many still don’t view CS2 as a full-fledged esports platform.

When Will Valve Finally Fix CS2?

To sum it up — CS2 is still raw, and it’s obvious even to the naked eye. The economy doesn’t work, tickrate is outdated, optimization is terrible, and visual design interferes with gameplay. And the most upsetting part — this is not just coming from YouTube streamers, but from top-tier professional players who live this every day.

I sincerely hope that Valve finally pays attention — especially with the ongoing BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where all of these issues are again in the spotlight.

CS2 has massive potential — but it’s time to stop feeding us promises and start actually fixing the game. Right now, it still feels like a beta — not the flagship of esports.

Read also:

Author Temujin Batbayar

Analyst from Ulaanbaatar specializing in CS2. Has competed in MESA tournaments, worked with Esports TV during the ESL Pro League, and reviewed both the PGL Major Antwerp 2022 and IEM Katowice 2024. Author of his own player evaluation metrics and known for accurate predictions. Has interviewed s1mple and ZywOo. In esports since the days of CS 1.3.