Counter-Strike 2 update adds new game mode, extends Trade Up Contract functionality

On Oct. 23, 2025, Counter-Strike 2 was updated, and it includes a new official game mode called Retakes. The update also extended the functionality of the Trade Up Contract to include knives or gloves as an exchange item.

Retakes is a game mode in Counter-Strike 2 that puts the player in a 4v3 site retake position. Players choose a loadout at the start of the round and try to retake the site with the chosen loadout.

Here’s the rest of the patch notes:

Gameplay:

• Adding Retakes as official game mode supporting Defusal Group Alpha and Defusal Group Delta maps on official matchmaking servers.
• Fixed Molotov and Smoke interaction logic in cases when multiple smokes are active in the map.

Maps:

• Updated Golden to the latest version from Steam Community Workshop
• Updated Palacio to the latest version from Steam Community Workshop
• Updated Rooftop to the latest version from Steam Community Workshop 

Inferno Changes:

• Adjustments to top of Quad and under Balcony to improve visibility.
• Various optimizations.

Contracts:

• Extended functionality of the “Trade Up Contract” to allow exchanging 5 items of Covert quality as follows:
  • 5 StatTrak™ Covert items can be exchanged for one StatTrak™ Knife from a collection of one of the items provided
  • 5 regular Covert items can be exchanged for one regular Knife item or one regular Gloves item from a collection of one of the items provided

Misc:

• Performance optimizations when the game is in the main menu and item inspect UI
• Fixed inventory item icons sometimes rendering in blurry state or not rendering
• Fixed several server-only sound events to not start multiple times
• Stability improvements