No, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is not free. While the game is free to play for existing CS:GO Prime Status owners, new players must purchase Prime Status to access CS2. Prime Status currently costs $14.99 on Steam.

Here's what you need to know about accessing CS2:

• If you already owned CS:GO Prime Status before CS2's release, you get CS2 automatically for free
• New players must buy Prime Status to play CS2
• There is no free-to-play version of CS2 like there was with CS:GO
• The game is exclusively available through Steam

I want to clarify that while CS:GO had a free-to-play option before CS2's release, Valve has completely replaced CS:GO with CS2. This means you can no longer play the free version of CS:GO, and the only way to play Counter-Strike now is to purchase CS2's Prime Status.

Prime Status not only gives you access to CS2 but also includes these benefits:

• Exclusive access to all game modes
• Ability to earn items, drops, and rewards
• Access to competitive matchmaking
• Prime-exclusive matchmaking

The decision to make CS2 a paid-only game helps reduce the number of cheaters and smurfs, ultimately providing a better gaming experience for legitimate players.

For anyone wondering whether to buy CS2, consider that the $14.99 price tag is relatively low compared to most modern games, especially given Counter-Strike's long-standing reputation and active player base.

Note that once you purchase Prime Status, you won't need to pay any additional fees to play CS2. There are no monthly subscriptions or hidden costs - it's a one-time purchase for permanent access to the game.

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