CS2's Active Map Pool: All the New and Returning Maps

A few days ago, beta announcement trailer launched Counter-Strike 2 onto the market, but will it get new maps different from CS:GO? Players have been asking this question for days, and it's become one of the most-discussed topics. To answer these questions, let's take a look together at whether the upcoming CS2 game will get new maps. Here's the active map pool coming to CS2!

CS2 (Counter-Strike 2) New Maps 2023!

Let's first answer what the active map pool is. The active map pool is the group of maps on which competitive matches are played in CS games, the ones that determine your rank or rating. So, what's currently in CS:GO's active map pool? Right now, CS:GO's active map pool is as follows:

• Vertigo
• Mirage
• Nuke
• Ancient
• Anubis
• Inferno
• Overpass

So, is CS 2's active map pool known yet? Based on leaks so far, the map pool that has emerged -though not confirmed- is as follows:

• Dust 2
• Mirage
• Train
• Nuke
• Overpass
• Inferno
• Ancient
• Cobblestone
• Vertigo

Dust 2

DUST 2, the favorite map of CS players and one we could call Turkish players' national map, will return updated in CS 2. Pulled from the active map pool a few months ago to fan backlash, CS is returning to the battlefield with CS 2.

Mirage

A favorite among Counter-Strike fans, this map was originally made for esports in the Cyberathlete Professional League back in CS 1.6 and has become a cornerstone of Counter-Strike ever since. The only map to appear at every CS major since its release, it's making a comeback in CS2.

Mirage is classified as a benchmark map, meaning its biggest updates come in the form of lighting improvements.

Train

Yes, this classic CS 1.6 map, created by Train, one of the creators of Counter-Strike, is finally back after being demoted to the Reserve Map Pool in May 2021.

Train is classified as a Benchmark map, meaning its biggest updates come in the form of lighting improvements.

Nuke

Nuke has been a cornerstone of competitive play since CS 1.6, and the move to Counter-Strike 2 hasn't changed that.

Nuke is classified as an upgrade map, meaning its biggest update comes in the form of new lighting physics and textures made for the map.

Overpass

One of the most unique maps in the pool, and one of the few in the active duty map pool made specifically for CSGO, it won't be missing from the move to Counter-Strike 2. It's classified as a revision map, having been completely rebuilt from scratch with new textures, lighting, structures, and even gameplay changes.

Inferno

One of the oldest maps in the game, first appearing in CS 1.1, this map is an absolute classic when it comes to Counter-Strike, and yes, it's coming along with Counter-Strike 2.

Inferno is classified as a revision map, having been completely rebuilt from scratch with new textures, lighting, structures, and even gameplay changes.

Ancient

One of the newest maps in the Active Duty Map Pool, and the spiritual successor to Aztec, Ancient sparked plenty of debate and dismay among players when it was added to the pool at the time. Still, it'll make another return with minimal changes. Ancient is classified as an upgrade map, and its biggest update will come in the form of new lighting physics and textures made for the map.

Cobblestone

Opinions on Cobble are still divided, but it still has fans in the community. Fans were quite upset when it was removed from the active group in 2019. However, it looks like it's making a comeback, with the Terrorist spawn entrance shown off in Source 2. It's not known which classification Cobblestone will get, but it's expected to be fully included in the game at launch.