CS2 Tick Rate

In this article, we’ll explore the role of tick rate in multiplayer games, Counter-Strike 2 specifically. One of the major talking points prior to the release of CS2 was the implementation of 128 tick rate. Let’s find out whether Valve finally resolved the latency issues.

What is Tick Rate in CS2?

In CS2, tick rate represents the frequency measurement that shows the number of actions performed per second. One tick is one update of the data between the server and client (each player’s game). The principle is pretty simple – the higher the tick rate, the more fluid and accurate the gameplay is. A higher tick rate means that updates between the server and each individual client happen more frequently and that the hit registration is significantly improved, while decreasing the change of lags and stuttering. The information processed in tick includes player movement, shooting mechanics and hit registration. 

Are CS2 Servers 128 Tick? Is Faceit 128 Tick?

Unfortunately, no. The official CS2’s server tick rate is 64 HZ, and it will probably stay the same for the time-being. The long-awaited switch to 128 tick was among the most speculated topics prior to the release of CS2, but Valve did not change how servers work. Is CS2 128 tick? Not in the near future. Hopefully, once Deadlock is out, the devs might come back to the technical improvement of the “beloved” game. 

The thing is that the official CS:GO and CS2 servers are locked at 64 HZ, while players used to host their own 128 tick servers, which were smoother and less jittery than 64 HZ servers. As you may know, the state of community servers is pretty sad right now, meaning that finding a 128 Tick community server is now impossible. Also, Faceit and Esea servers were predominantly fixed at 128 ticks, providing players with a better feel. Unfortunately, all third-party servers are now locked at 64 ticks as well. 

What is CS2 Subtick?

A subtick is a time measurement smaller than a tick, used to measure the action of each individual player more precisely. The subtick system is supposed to improve the overall game feel and responsiveness, by processing each action instantaneously and more frequently. In theory, you should experience more accurate hit registration, smoother movement (which was improved in the latest Armory Update) and consistent actions without tearing. Even though the locked rate of CS2 is 64, the subtick system processes all actions in a shorter timespan, providing players with stable visual representation of the game. Much to players' disappointment, some issues related to poor response time and lags are still prevalent. Recently, even successful pro players like AleksiB expressed their nostalgia for CS:GO : "Download CS:GO, shoot 1 bot, it's so crisp, you're gonna cry".

CS2 Tick Rate Command

In order to check your current tick rate in Counter-Strike 2, you should do the following: 

• Launch CS2 and start any game mode

• In the game, open console (`) and enter “cl_showfps 3”

• Press Enter and the graph will appear on the screen

Players used to check FPS and tick rate with a “cl_showfps 1” console command, but this command is no longer viable. Also, if you are unable to open console, then make sure to set “Enable Developer Console” to “Yes” in the settings of the game. If you experience lags in CS2, then make sure to check our guide on how to fix lags and slow response time.