CS2 update introduces knife trade-ups and Retakes game mode

Valve has released its latest Counter-Strike 2 update, which reintroduces the official Retakes game mode and allows players to trade up for knives and gloves.

The update to the first-person shooter title also features other changes, including adjustments to the Inferno map.

Published on October 22nd, 2025, the Retakes mode involves players dropping into a 4v3 post-plant scenario using limited resources and weaponry to either defuse or defend the objective.

In addition to the mode, the update also features changes to Inferno, aiming to improve visibility at the top of Quad and underneath the Balcony.

Another change from the update is the extended functionality of the title’s Trade Up Contract. Players can exchange five Covert items to earn a guaranteed knife or a pair of gloves.

As a result of players having greater opportunities to earn the rarest skins, the CS2 skin market has lost over $1.75bn (~£1.3bn) in value following the change.

Elsewhere, further optimisation improvements have adjusted “Molotov and Smoke interaction logic when multiple smokes are active on the map.”

The return of official Retakes servers has been overshadowed by the significant change to the Trade Up Contract, which has impacted the value of several high-tier cosmetics.

“Counter-Strike rugged its entire community,” said former Head of YouTube Gaming, Ryan ‘Fwiz’ Wyatt. “They just rinsed everyone in the market who had anything of any value.”

While many members of the community have criticised Valve’s decision, others say that the change is much needed.

“The market manipulation that was happening and driving prices to the point where people couldn’t buy them without investing an insane amount of money to get a nice skin is out of hand,” commented American CS2 player and streamer Erik ‘fl0m’ Flom.

With CS2’s skin marketplace continuing to fluctuate, it’s unclear if it stabilises or falls further as players make the most of a new way to obtain knives and gloves.