Counter-Strike 2's Controversial Penalties and Bot Modes Explained

Counter-Strike 2 has implemented a harsh penalty for players who leave matches early, resulting in a 1,000-point drop in their ELO rating. While this penalty aims to deter intentional match abandonment, players are complaining that it also applies to unintentional departures, such as game crashes. Additionally, solo players can receive the penalty if their teammates vote to kick them. Some players are concerned about the power this gives to groups of trolls. There are also concerns about the lack of warning for certain situations, such as leaving due to bad behavior by teammates. The new penalty system may have unintended consequences, including the potential for players to create smurf accounts with artificially low rankings. Valve may continue to adjust these penalties as the game evolves.