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Counter-Strike 2 Coming This Summer as Free CS:GO Upgrade

A limited test will begin rolling out to CS:GO players today.

Valve on Wednesday announced Counter-Strike 2, the evolution of one of the most storied first-person shooters. According to the game’s website, CS2 is a massive update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the crown jewel of the tactical shooter genre for decades. Maps were rebuilt from the ground up with new tools and features. The new game will be available on Windows as a free upgrade to CS:GO (which is already free-to-play) sometime this summer.

CS:GO, the fourth main series entry in the Counter-Strike franchise, was launched in 2012 by Valve (makers of the Steam Deck) and long dominated the tactical shooter genre, which rewards precision aim and coordinated tactics to achieve objectives like planting or defusing bombs. Its dominance was tested in 2020 when Riot Games released Valorant, which featured more contemporary graphics and agents with unique abilities like smokes and walls. The announcement of Counter-Strike 2 gives the series a modern upgrade and a chance to attract newer players who weren’t interested in a decade-old game.

The announcement boasts a variety of upgrades to the game experience. CS2 features dynamic, volumetric smokes that react to gunfire. The game has cleaner and brighter visuals including high-resolutions updates to CS:GO guns and finishes, and updated environmental effects. It also uses sub-tick updates for moving and shooting. That’s particularly important for the competitive aspect of the game, where players’ reflexes are continually tested, and the tiniest increments of time make a significant difference in the outcome of a game. 

Want to get into the limited test? According to Valve’s FAQ, current CS:GO players are selected «based on a number of factors deemed important by the Counter-Strike 2 development team, including (but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.» If you’re invited into the test, you’ll see a notification on CS:GO’s main menu. Players will be invited over time until the game launches. We’ll continue to report as more information becomes available and as the game gets closer to launch.

Technologies

Give the Gift of Great Sound With Sennheiser Headphones at a 60% Black Friday Discount

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are now down to a record low price of $179 this Black Friday.

Spending this Black Friday shopping for a holiday gift for an audiophile? With tons of items on sale, there are plenty to chose from. Sennheiser is behind some of the best wireless headphones you can buy, but its headphones can be prohibitively costly.

But for two days only, Woot is running a Black Friday deal that brings the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones down to $179 from the original $450 price. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are for audiophiles who want great quality and comfort. You have to be quick, as this deal ends on Nov. 30, or sooner if supplies run out.

Sennheiser Signature Sound gives you rich, balanced audio, and the companion Smart Control app lets you fine-tune the sound to your liking. Adaptive noise cancellation keeps outside distractions at bay, making these headphones great for work, commuting or just zoning out at home. The battery lasts up to 60 hours at moderate volume, and the voice-calling quality is solid, so you can rely on them for everyday use.

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If this style of headphones isn’t your cup of tea, then maybe a pair of the best wireless earbuds will be better suited to your needs. If you’re shopping on a budget, check out our roundups of the best gifts under $100, $50 and $25 to see more great gift-giving ideas.

Why this deal matters

This deal surely won’t last. Sennheiser has made a name for itself as one of the best in the audio business, and that’s clear with the Momentum 4 wireless headphones. They offer adaptive noise cancellation, a Bluetooth connection and up to 60 hours of playback. When it comes to comfort and quality, it doesn’t get much better, especially with a discount like this.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Is Now Just $250 in Multiple Black Friday Sales

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is an even better value with this $100 discount.

The holiday season is here, and while your fitness goals might not be at the front of your mind right now, January is just around the corner. That means resolutions are upon us, so what better time than now to pick up a new smartwatch? You can get your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 while it’s available for a huge $100 off for Black Friday.

Amazon and Best Buy are both selling the Galaxy Watch 8 at the same $250 price. We can’t promise either deal will be around for long.

Samsung’s latest smartwatch packs serious hardware upgrades over it predecessor. It has a vibrant 46mm AMOLED display that shines up to 3,000 nits, along with 2GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, built-in GPS and advanced fitness tools, including sleep coaching and vascular load monitoring. It’s waterproof up to 50 meters and lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge.

CNET expert Vanessa Hand Orellana praised its refined design, detailed health insights and Gemini AI support, noting that it «has nearly every feature I could hope for.» Just remember, some tools work best when paired with the Samsung Galaxy phone.

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Why this deal matters

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 packs serious upgrades for the price. With advanced fitness tools, sleep coaching and daily energy tracking, it’s one of the most feature‑rich smartwatches this year. The $250 price represents a new low for the model and includes a 90-day warranty. But with limited stock, it’s a deal worth grabbing quickly.

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The Black Friday Gaming Deals Are Here. Shop Now and Save Big on PlayStation, Xbox and Alienware

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