Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is experiencing a surge in peak player counts, reaching 1,743,533 concurrent players in the last 30 days according to SteamCharts, who monitors all game titles on Steam. This marks one of the highest peaks since the game replaced CS:GO on March 22, 2023. While these numbers are impressive, they still fall just short of the all-time record set by CS:GO in May 2023, when it peaked at 1,818,773 players. With CS2 maintaining over 900,000 average players since December 2024, the question now is whether it can finally surpass its predecessor’s historic numbers.

CS2 Peak Player Timeline: Key Milestones

2023: The Transition and Early Highs

March 2023 – Just before CS2’s official launch, CS:GO peaked at 1,519,457 players, as anticipation for the new game grew.

May 2023 – CS:GO hit its all-time peak of 1,818,773 concurrent players, the highest recorded in the series. This record can be attributed to the announcement of the CS2 limited test and the final CS:GO Major, BLAST Paris, which drove massive player engagement. The same month also saw the highest average player count in Counter-Strike history, surpassing 1.11 million players.

September 2023 – CS2 officially launched, bringing a peak of 1,556,326 players, showing immediate interest but not quite reaching CS:GO’s final peak.

October 2023 – A sharp decline followed, dropping to 1,364,902 peak players, marking a loss of nearly 200,000 concurrent users within a month.

2024: The Road to Recovery

March 2024 – A strong bounce back pushed the peak count to 1,521,796, surpassing September 2023 levels.

May 2024 – The trend continued, with CS2 hitting 1,614,925 peak players, its highest point in over a year.

July 2024 – The lowest peak recorded since launch, dipping to 1,342,171, showing a temporary slowdown.

December 2024 – A major spike in activity saw the peak hit 1,740,261, fueled by holiday gaming trends and renewed interest in the game.

2025: CS2 Reaches a New High

January 2025 – CS2’s peak players reached 1,594,016, maintaining momentum from the holiday surge.

Last 30 Days – The latest data shows CS2 peaking at 1,743,533 players, the highest since launch and just 75,000 players short of CS:GO’s all-time record.

Can CS2 Surpass CS:GO’s Peak?

Despite being slightly below CS:GO’s all-time peak, CS2’s current numbers are highly promising. Since December 2024, CS2 has averaged over 900,000 players, a sign of its strong retention and growing player base. With updates, esports events, and seasonal trends pushing numbers higher, the game is inching closer to its predecessor’s legendary records.

The coming months will be crucial. If Valve continues delivering meaningful updates and competitive events, CS2 could soon break the 1.8 million player mark and set a new record for the Counter-Strike franchise. The player base is already at its strongest since launch, and another major event—similar to the BLAST Paris Major’s effect on CS:GO in 2023—could be the final push needed to claim the top spot.

CS2 is on the verge of making history. The question is: when will it finally surpass CS:GO?