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Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike 2 Update Adds Hostage, Console and GameRules Map Scripting Tools

Valve's October 22 Counter-Strike 2 patch notes list only map scripting changes, including new Precache, Hostage, Console and GameRules APIs plus several fixes.

Counter-Strike 2 Update Adds Hostage, Console and GameRules Map Scripting Tools
Photo: Timrael / Pixabay (stock photo)

What the update changes

Valve's official patch notes for the October 22 Counter-Strike 2 update are made up entirely of map scripting changes. The notes list no changes to weapons, maps, game modes or balance. The additions are tools for people who build maps with the game's scripting system.

Precache and hostage scripting

Valve added Instance.Precache, which returns a CSPrecache object. That object gets these methods: IsServerLoading, IsServerLoaded, IsClientLoading, IsClientLoaded, IsLoadedForAll and Release.

A new CSHostage class arrives with IsBeingPickedUp, IsBeingCarried, IsRescued, GetRescuer, GetPickUpStartTime and GetPickUpFinishTime. There is also a new CSPlayerPawn.GetHostage.

Six new hostage events were added to Instance: OnHostagePickUpStart, OnHostagePickUpAbort, OnHostagePickUp, OnHostageDrop, OnHostageRescue and OnHostageKill.

Counter-Strike 2 logo, the game named in the update story.
Counter-Strike 2 logo, the game named in the update story. · Photo: Yannick Croissant / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

New Console export

The update adds a top-level export called Console. It includes GetConvarBoolean, GetConvarNumber, GetConvarString, GetConvarVector, GetConvarQAngle, GetConvarColor and SetConvar.

According to the notes, Console.SetConvar is not restricted by sv_cheats and executes synchronously.

Instance.Msg is now Console.Log. Instance.ClientCommand, ServerCommand and RegisterCheatCommand have moved to Console.

New GameRules export

A second top-level export, GameRules, adds StartWarmup, EndWarmup, GetTeamScore, AddTeamScore and TerminateRound.

Several existing methods moved there from Instance: IsWarmupPeriod, IsFreezePeriod, IsTeamIntroPeriod, GetRoundsPlayed, GetRoundRemainingTime, SetRoundRemainingTime and AddTeamMoney. Valve says the moved and renamed methods still work in their original location but are deprecated.

GameRules.AddTeamMoney now supports CSTeamMoneyReason.NONE with an amount.

HUD and radar

Two new top-level custom_hud_layout classes were added: HUD_TEAMMENU_VISIBLE and HUD_CHAT_VISIBLE. In addition, radar_element can now appear on the radar in every game mode, not just Rush.

Fixes

  • Fixed a crash in GameRules.AddTeamMoney with CSTeamMoneyReason.NONE.
  • Fixed CSTeamMoneyReason enum values not matching point_script.d.ts.
  • Fixed CSWeaponAttackType enum values not matching point_script.d.ts.
  • Fixed CSRadarPoint.IsVisibleToTeam returning a number instead of a boolean.
  • Fixed CSObservablePoint.IsObservableForTeam returning a number instead of a boolean.

Logged warnings also changed. They now include the JavaScript call stack and details about bad argument values, and they count arguments from 0 instead of 1. The map_workshop command also has improved auto complete.

What it means for you

If you only play matches, the notes list nothing that changes how Counter-Strike 2 plays. Map makers have more to work with, and scripts that use the moved or renamed methods still run for now because the old locations remain available, though deprecated. Anyone updating scripts should check argument numbering in logged warnings, since it now starts at 0.

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Quick answers

When was the Counter-Strike 2 update released?

Valve's patch notes are dated Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Does the update change weapons or maps?

No. The published notes list only map scripting changes, fixes and a map_workshop auto complete improvement.

Will old scripts using Instance.Msg still work?

The notes say moved and renamed methods remain available in their original location, but they are deprecated.

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