Amid malicious third-party sites attempting to scam players out of their Steam login information, Valve has warned fans over Twitter to avoid fake keys for itsCounter-Strike 2beta. With access being doled directly throughCounter-Strike: Global Offensive’s main menu, anything beyond Valve’s official method for key dispersal can safely be considered a fake.
On March 22, Valve shocked gamers everywhere with itssudden and robust announcement ofCounter-Strike 2, launching a dedicated website with a trove of in-depth information on its updates to the decades-old formula for one of the most popular multiplayer shooters of all time. With striking new visual, lighting, and particle effects possible with the Source 2 Engine, and under-the-hood advancements to its tick rates and server capabilities,Counter-Strike 2represents the largest technical leap forward in the franchise’s history. Fans also welcomed the news that the new title would be a free upgrade for allCS:GOplayers and that their inventory of cosmetics would carry over to the new game, with Steam’s VAC bans carrying over as well.
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Hoursafter the unveiling ofCounter-Strike 2, Valve took to the officialCounter-StrikeTwitter to warn players of numerous scams promoting access to theCounter-Strike 2beta. Any third-party site advertising limited test access or beta keys is unequivocally a scam, with the lone method for accessing theCounter-Strike 2beta coming through launching CS:GO and checking the main menu to see if Valve has selected the account for its test. It has been confirmed by the studio that there are no limited test keys, third-party promotions, or unaffiliated opt-ins. It is up to Valve’s discretion as to whom it allows access, and it is basing the decision on a number of metrics, from recent activity and skill level to Steam’s trust factor levels.
Fraudulent schemes to goad naive players into sharing their Steam login information are as old as the platform itself. In the case ofCounter-Strikewhere some items in the in-game marketplace can fetch upwards of six figures, scamming accounts is big business, as malefactors explore a number of avenues to lie, cheat, and steal their way into other players' passwords. It comes as little surprise to fans that with the announcement ofCounter-Strike 2, and its limited availability for its testing phase, scams surrounding its access would quickly become rampant.
Valve is imploring its fans not to explore outside methods of accessing theCounter-Strike 2beta, as it ensures that more invites will be doled out up until the game’s official release. Withexcitement for a newCounter-Strikegame at a fever pitch, the studio is urging self-control from its biggest supporters who were not selected for the beta.
Counter-Strike 2will be released in the summer of 2023 for PC.
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