The transition from CS:GO to CS2 introduced a plethora of changes to the game, and while many argued that the game underwent significant visual changes, the new mechanics garnered mixed reactions from the community.
As in-game movement took a significant hit, the spray control was an absolute disaster for the first few days, as many were unable to apply the spray pattern that they had mastered for years. When we looked deeper, it wasn’t the spray pattern that changed significantly; however, the new subtick system was what caused most of the difference.
What is tickrate?
Tickrate in Counter Strike refers to the rate at which the game communicates to the server, or it is the frequency of the local game instance updating the data by the server hosting the match. In simple words, the higher the tick rate, the smoother the game will feel. It is generally measured in Hz, and CS:GO servers were broadly in 64 tick and 128 tick; however, fans expected the developers to implement the 64 tick system across all Valve servers but not only did they completely scrap the system, the new subtick system they introduced failed to replicate the smoothness of old 128 tick servers.
What is the subtick system?
The traditional tick system made sure that the game server was updated at a frequency of 64/128 with CS:GO, but the new subtick system took a different approach by assigning a timestamp to every action, which gets updated together in the server and as a result players notice improved hit registration, smoother movement, and a more responsive feel of the game or so it should have been.
While the new system was supposed to bring a massive difference in the smoothness of the server, it failed miserably, leading to pro players calling out the developers for releasing an undeveloped game. NAVI captain Aleski ‘Aleksib’ Virolainen openly pointed out how CS:GO felt way smoother compared to CS2. While everything felt way off, it was difficult to point out what exactly needed to be changed to fix it.
As time went by, the developers addressed each and every concern from professionals to casuals, and the game saw a significant improvement in almost all areas, but the difference in mechanics was readily apparent.
“Whenever I’m playing a matchmaking game on CS2 and I shoot the guy and I just go full spray mode, I feel like something is off, like my bullets are not connecting, or my pattern is just random… it doesn’t feel right.”
Robin ‘ropz‘ Kool
How does the new subtick system impact CS2 spray?
As every action gets mapped, down to the last bullet of each spray, this makes the server keep track without losing actions. Timestamps allow players to get accurate outcomes, and as a result, the sprays are less forgiving and not always accurate. The new system makes it more precise than ever, even if it doesn’t feel as smooth, leading many to believe that the mechanic is broken, but the reality is far from it.
It is broadly suggested that the new system will not make CS2 harder, but sharpshooters who are precise with their spray control and aim are likely to benefit a lot from this. It goes without saying that this approach is far from CS:GO, and it will be hard for some people to get over the muscle memory that has been trained for decades, but with time adapting to this game should not be difficult, given that the core fundamentals has been carried over from CS:GO.
It has been 2 years since the game was released, and while many have adapted to the new mechanics, there are still those who remain rebellious and are firm in their belief that the old 128 tick servers felt smoother. YouTube is flooded with comparison videos, and while it can be argued that the old game was smoother, the new one boasts better precision and accuracy, even though the feel-good factor is largely missing.
What do Professional Players feel?
- “Whenever I’m playing … I go full spray mode, I feel like … my bullets are not connecting … it doesn’t feel right.” ropz
- “When I spray with M4 or AK … it felt more accurate before … it feels like CS2 spray never ends up in the head.” m0NESY
- “tapping and burst fire felt solid, but spraying needed improvement.” NAF, woxic & floppy (ESL / pro feedback)
- “After playing … with 40–50 ping … the game felt incredibly inconsistent, from movement to spraying/hitting opponents.” Twistzz
Is the CS2 spray broken?
TLDR, no. The spray itself is not broken, but rather it’s a matter of how the player perceives it. On the face of it, the new subtick system not only impacts the spray, but it makes the overall game feel jittery to the point players end up checking their FPS every other round. While statistics would indicate that it has improved compared to CS2, players would choose to ignore that and trust the results of the eye test.
Almost all aspects of the game have been carried over from its predecessor, and as a result, the mechanics have also been retained. Players having a difficult time adapting should give it a little more time.
The developers have drastically improved every aspect of the game, which has led to CS2 spray feeling smoother with time.
From the players who criticised the game mechanics when the game was at a nascent stage, not only have they managed to get accustomed to it, but the likes of Ropz and Twistzzz are still considered in the list of the best riflers in the world.
The transition to the new game may have been tough, but hardly anyone can argue that their skill level has undergone a noticeable drop. With time and practice, players are finding the new subtick system easier to deal with, and some prefer having better hit accuracy over a slightly inaccurate but smooth-feeling game.
Verdict
The game did get its fair share of criticism during its early days, but developers have done their part to iron out all the kinks that came with earlier builds. The game feels much smoother compared to its earlier build, and while the game may not feel as good, it compensates for it by making its registry more accurate than ever.