CS2 Tick Rate System Explained

Counter-Strike 2 is the most massive and influential game in the esports genre. As the game continues to do great, Valve is upgrading the title with innovative features out of which one are the Tick Rate and Sub-tick system. This system shows the number of actions that are performed per second. So, in simpler terms, the higher the tick rate, the better the gameplay experience will be.

Defining The Tick Rate in CS2

A frequency measurement that shows how many tasks are finished in a second is called the tick rate in CS2. One data update between the client (each player’s game) and the server is represented by a tick. The concept is rather simple: the faster the tick rate, the more precise and fluid the gaming.

A higher tick rate enhances hit registration significantly by decreasing stuttering and delays and increasing the frequency of updates between the server and each individual client. Tick rate analyzes data on player movement, hit registration, and fire mechanics.

Accessing the Tick Rate Command in CS2

Now, everybody isn’t aware of how the command actually works. Luckily, the process is very simple and involves just a few simple steps. The most basic way is to open CS2, then select any game mode, open console (`) in the game, and type “cl_showfps 3.” When you hit Enter, the graph will show up on the screen.

The “cl_showfps 1” console command was once used by players to verify FPS and tick rate, however it is no longer functional. Additionally, make sure that “Enable Developer Console” is set to “Yes” in the game’s options if you are having trouble opening the console.

Apart from this, there are other third-party and community-developed software that let you access the tick command as well.

Is 128 Tick Available in CS2 Servers?

Unfortunately, CS2 servers aren’t 128 Tick, but before going further into it, it is important to understand what this term even means. So, normally the game operates at 64 Hz Tick servers, which are slower than 128. So, the higher the Tick server value, the smoother will be the game experience.

While the game explicitly doesn’t run 128 Hz tick servers, you could host your own using different hosting platforms to get that buttery smooth experience. However, that option has now been permanently removed, so you are stuck at 64 Hz servers.

This has been largely criticized by the community as CS2 does require faster response times to be played as intended. The slower server speed means that players are stuck at slower response times, significantly hindering their gameplay.

Sub-Tick in CS2 Defined

A sub-tick is a time unit that is smaller than a tick and is used to more accurately gauge each player’s action. Because the sub-tick system processes each action instantly and more often, it should enhance the responsiveness and overall experience of the game.

Theoretically, you ought to enjoy consistent actions without tearing, smoother movement, and more precise hit registration. Despite CS2’s 64-locked pace, the subtick technology handles all operations faster, giving players a consistent visual depiction of the game. To the dismay of gamers, there are still a lot of problems with slow reaction times and latency.