Counter-Strike: Source Beta Coming; Updated to Latest Public Source Build

[[MyIS]Zips]

Since everyone so kindly asked about what this "big news" is, here you go. There's something to remember with this. This has not been officially announced yet nor is it guaranteed to happen, or to happen as soon as we all hope it will. Before you "complain" about how this is labeled as a rumor (this part is especially important to non-Counter-Strike focused communities reading this), be sure to READ the entire post to see what is factually known and what is speculation. With that said, here you go.

Valve will soon release a beta opportunity for Counter-Strike: Source. This beta allegedly includes a major overhaul to the game, specifically when it comes to the use of the Source engine. At present it is assumed that this beta will find Counter-Strike: Source running on the latest build of the engine but there are no guarantees on this. Previously, it was mentioned that Valve was working on bringing the game to the Orange Box build of Source, but that has come and gone and with Left 4 Dead 2 being the latest build of the engine, it is quite possible we will see Counter-Strike on this build. Again, no guarantees at this.

Based on a new forum section that was briefly visible on the official Steampowered Forums, there will be a Counter-Strike: Source beta (was simply called "CS: Source Beta"). That forum has since been hidden deep within the halls of SPUF. We're sure it will reveal itself once Valve is ready to proceed with this beta if, again, it actually happens. This forum was visible late last week for only a brief period of time. This is why it was expected that we would see an official announcement about this news late last week but it was simply not meant to be just yet.

Right now, it's also not known for sure what changes to the gameplay will be included, if any at all. Let's face it, the Counter-Strike community and the word "change" don't exactly go hand in hand. As with all beta releases, it is entirely possible we will see many significant bug fixes and updates for old issues, but entirely new issues may also pop up as a result of any number of factors.

Depending on the scope of this update, it may not include the graphical overhaul, or it may not include any changes outside of a graphical update, or it may actually contain both. It may just be a number of bug fixes and optimizations to the existing game. Remember, we have not heard publicly much about this fabled updated to Counter-Strike: Source for a number of years now.

This is a bit of a reason why we sort of wanted to sit on this news because outside of a few whispers here and there, nothing has been officially announced on this. Again, it may not happen at all. However, if or when it does happen, it should certainly light a fire under some of you to get back into the game that spawned this site in the first place.

For the "tl;dr" crowd: There is a strong possibility of a CS: Source beta coming very soon. The exact nature of this update is not yet known but it is speculated that the update will include a major update to the version of the Source engine compared to what the game currently runs on.

We will simply need to "wait and see" as to what actually happens next. And yes, for now this is going to be labeled a "rumor" just in case Valve decides to up and change their minds on this. Either way, this should serve to be some fantastic news to Counter-Strike fans and readers of CS-Nation (who came here long ago for actual CS news).

[Mystic_Monkey]

Wow this actually sounds like the best news in ages!, If it is true that is!

[IC dead people]

wow, if this is true I might just... I don't know... I'll have to think about it.
My mind is blown, I thought valve gave up on CS / CSS ages ago and decided to make HL3E21 and L4D12 and other stuff that looks like a sports score.
Maybe They'll make a source version of one of the official CS maps that never got an official CSS version... I can think of some very good candidates...

[Unregistered]

uh, isn't there alraedy a game called CS: Source?
If they they really are going to go through with this "Beta" they better pick a new name. AND, i expect to see some SUBSTANTIAL differences from cs:source(2004) and this 'new' cs:source. Valve was given exactly 6 years from the first half life engine to the source engine, and they invented something great. 6 years has passed since THAT, so... i expect to be floored by this beta.

[Unregistered]

any hint on your informant / source for this news??

thanks

[fodder0]

I would love to get back into playing counter-strike if they updated it. This is exciting, lets watch and see what happens.

[Thortok2000]

Did you not notice the big update to the Steam UI around last week? And the forums?

There was a bug in the forum structure where this forum appeared by accident. It's actually referring to the beta long past, before CS:S was even released. It's not referencing a new beta, it's referencing an old one.

They squashed the bug in the forum system and removed that forum.

That's all this is. You're getting people's hopes up too much.

[Death-M0nk]

I am intrigued sir...

[K-16]

And with this news VALVe Software is officially screwed as cancelling this idea will force the entire Counter-Strike community to form a violent protest and riot outside of their offices.

... Maybe They'll make a source version of one of the official CS maps that never got an official CSS version... I can think of some very good candidates...

Just as long as they don't charge $15 USD for this (or $6 if we're only counting what is recycled), it wouldn't be a bad idea.

[SaintK]

Beta 4.2.... The good old times.....

[heffebaycay]

This is definitely not a rumor.

Just take a look at the Content Description Record in your ClientRegistry.blob or through the Steam client Console. There are two applications with interesting names :
Counter-Strike: Source Beta Content (261)
Counter-Strike: Source Beta Content2 (262)

If you take a look at the appinfo record for the second one, you get this :

AppID : 262, ChangeNumber : 21177, last change : Sat May 08 13:59:40 2010, State: 0
Section extended :
"extended"
{
"dedicatedserverfolder" "orangebox"
"cddbfingerprint" "1263160873"
}


And then you know CS Source is coming to the Orange Box version of the Source Engine

[FAF]

Good news indeed

There's barely been a large update to CS:S since the launch, and I can't believe that's 6 years ago this year!

I'm part of a huge community who play on the CPC server in the UK, and of the 200 or so of us we all still play CS:S at least once a week. No matter how many other fine games come along, it's CS:S that everyone drops back into.

I'd sell my soul to get on the beta, even if it's just engine changes or cosmetic updgrades. This is the best gaming news for me this year on any platform

[Unregistered]

what is the source of information here?

[Unregistered]

Seems to be speculation based on clues rather than an actual human source.

[motzilla]

i wonder if the heist game mode will be incorporated at the same time..

[motzilla]

i wonder if any new game modes will be also released. heist anyone???

[dunesw64]

Wasn't this to be expected? I mean, when Valve updated Day of Defeat: Source by moving the game to the Orange Box engine all they did was make some minor tweaks and add achievements. Since then, people were saying the same was going to happen to Counter-Strike: Source eventually. There's no way of knowing, but I'm betting my chips on this being an insubstantial change to CS:S as we know it. I hope I'm wrong, though.

[Puppet Ma5teR]

Everyone always ends of coming back to Counter Strike. I am starting to get tired of MW2. so it would be nice to get back into some CSS roots baby!

[defragen1]

about f**king time valve

otherwise I'm gonna storm the valve offices and shoot those "terrorist" devs