The best CS2 launch options and what they do in 2024

CS2 is much smoother than previous installments, but some launch options can help squeeze full juice out of Valve’s shooter.

Counter-Strike 2, by default, is a well-optimized game that doesn’t need much slider tweaking. This is especially true for newcomers, who should be more concerned with basic gameplay. Once those newcomers have settled in, they may want to play around with CS2 launch options to take their game to the next level.

For green CS2 fans, launch options are simply pre-game commands that improve CS2 FPS, performance, and gameplay in general. Each time CS2 starts, launch options load up by default, preventing the need to open the console and customize the gaming experience every time.

Do CSGO launch options work in CS2?

There are some iconic launch options that CSGO players used for a decade, but they no longer work in CS2.

New players who have heard of these commands due to their popularity may want to use them, but they are advised to avoid doing so, as they have no impact on CS2 gameplay.

• -tickrate 128: CS2 uses a sub-tick system, rendering all tick rate commands useless
• -novid: It was used to remove the intro in CSGO but no longer works in CS2
• -limitvsconst: Also doesn’t work
• -d3d9ex and -disable_d3d9ex: These commands work on DirectX 9, an outdated graphic technology that is no longer used in CS2

However, other CS2 launch options should work normally. The commands mentioned above are all outdated due to the changes made to the game engine.

What are the best CS2 launch options?

There are dozens of CS2 launch options, but it’s best not to stuff the text box with random commands.

Here are some launch options that we recommend using in CS2.

• -nojoy: Removes joystick support from the game, which helps relieve RAM stress, which brings more benefit than harm
• +fps_max 0: Removes FPS cap, which players with low-end PCs are recommended to turn off, especially those whose FPS frequently spikes below 60
• -softparticlesdefaultoff: Reduces load on graphics card by disabling blending of particles with the background, which has a minimal impact on visuals, but can significantly improve performanc
• -high: Puts CS2 in a computer’s high-priority list of programs, ultimately boosting the overall performance of the game
• -low: This command is opposite to -high, and makes CS2 low priority for times when players are casually killing time in bot mode while an important task runs in the background.
• +violence_hblood 0: Removes blood after a player has been eliminated, as removing it may reduce the load on the CPU and GPU and improve in-game performance
• +r_drawparticles 0: Disables particle animations to improve game performance.
• -console: New players should put this into their launch options first thing before starting CS2 for the first time, as it enables the console by default through pressing the tilde (~) key.
• -allow_third_party_software: This is not a game-related command, but streamers and content creators may want to turn this on, as if this command wasn’t enabled, players may not be able to get game capture on their recording and streaming software
• -nohltv: Turns off all Source TV features
• -refresh 144: Sets the game’s refresh rate to 144 Hz, which means that the game will attempt to render 144 frames per second for players with high refresh rate monitors
• -refresh 240: It makes sure 240 Hz monitor owners are actually getting 240 refreshes a second.
• +exec autoexec.cfg: It automatically reads and executes the commands in the “autoexec.cfg” file when the game starts, which allows players to customize game settings and preferences without having to manually enter commands each time the game is played
• -autoconfig: Reverses the above launch option for times when players want to refresh their cfg or play with default settings

Launch options to get more FPS in CS2

FPS in CS2 can be increased by shutting down all background applications and keeping minimal stress on the GPU and CPU while playing the game. Those looking to check all bases before booting up CS2 may use FPS-boosting launch options.

Players who are only looking to clock up their FPS in CS2 should simply copy the following script and paste it into their launch options text box.

• +fps_max 0 -forcenovsync -high -softparticlesdefaultoff +mat_disable_fancy_blending 1 +violence_hblood 0

This script is especially useful for those who may be working with a lower-end gaming build. -forcenovsynch disables VSync, whereas -softparticlesdefaultoff will turn off fancy blending. After this, players may notice that their graphics aren’t as detailed, which is intended to reduce the load on GPU and increase FPS.

If any of the above launch options cause issues in the game, we recommend going back and removing them. After the CS2 port, certain launch options aren’t working for all players. For example, +violence_hblood 0 still works for some, while others claim it no longer works. A launch option not working at all is not a significant problem, but if it hinders gameplay, players should turn it off.

Are CS2 launch options different from console commands?

Launch options and console commands are two different things, as console commands are used once the game has booted up and launch options are used before opening the game.

Turning on launch options in CS2 is pretty simple. Here’s how to do it.

• Open Steam and navigate to the CS2 game library
• Right-click on CS2 and select Properties
• In the Properties window, click on Set Launch Options
• Start typing the desired launch options or paste the copied script into the text box
• Click OK to save the changes
• Launch CS2 and the game will run with the specified launch options

Make sure the launch options all have their relevant flags and are separated by space, not commas. This small oversight is a big reason why launch options don’t work for some players.