Remake for Counter-Strike 2 is Coming!
A Look Back and What to Expect
Counter-Strike fans, get ready to feel nostalgic as the legendary map maker Shaun “FMPONE” Snelling has shared early screenshots of an updated version of the fan-favorite map de_santorini for Counter-Strike 2. This map was originally launched in Nov. 2015, by FMPONE, Dimitri “Dimsane” Alexis, Brian “Hordeau” Pujals, and Rick “Rf” Forge, and was officially added via Operation Wildfire in Feb. 2016.
The world of Counter-Strike is buzzing with excitement as legendary map maker Shaun “FMPONE” Snelling shares early screenshots of an updated de_santorini for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). The map, originally launched in Nov. 2015, was a long-time fan-favorite for its bright textures and unique approach to verticality. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the history of Santorini in CS:GO, and examine what changes and improvements we can expect in the updated version for CS2.
The History of Santorini in CS:GO
Santorini was an instant hit among both casuals and pros alike, with its bright textures and unique approach to verticality. Even though the map was never played at a major tournament, Santorini was featured in a show match between top 20 teams Flipsid3 Tactics and CSGOLounge in March 2016.
Fans of the map were disappointed when Santorini was removed from the Active Duty map pool following Operation Wildfire in Oct. 2016. However, the map has maintained a cult following over the years, with third-party platform FACEIT briefly including Santorini in its community map pool in 2017.
The Updated Version of Santorini
Santorini. Source 2. WIP ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/UMm1mWh1Zx
— FMPONE (@FMPONE) April 23, 2023
FMPONE has shared that the updated version of Santorini takes full advantage of CS2’s pivotal lighting changes and Source 2’s new ‘physically-based rendering system.’ He has also stated that he is working on porting Active Duty classic Cache to CS2 sometime this year, and that the lessons he’s learning from updating Santorini will ultimately improve Cache on CS2’s launch.
In Valve’s CS2 announcement video from March 23, 2023, the developer explained that maps in Counter-Strike would undergo updates for CS2 based on which category the map fell into, from ‘touchstone’ maps needing light work, to full-on competitive ‘overhauls.’ FMPONE’s update on Santorini assures players that they will be able to return to the Greek island come day one of CS2’s launch.
by FMPONE via Valve
It is still unclear whether community maps will be considered by Valve for these categories, but one thing is certain – the updated version of Santorini will be a treat for Counter-Strike fans. You can catch up on every CS2 map revealed so far by visiting the official website.
In conclusion, the updated version of Santorini for Counter-Strike 2 is a highly anticipated release among CS:GO fans. The original map, launched in 2015, had already become a fan-favorite due to its unique approach to verticality and bright textures. With the new updated version of Santorini, map maker FMPONE has taken full advantage of CS2’s pivotal lighting changes and Source 2’s new ‘physically-based rendering system,’ to improve upon the original elements that made the map so popular.
The update has also raised hopes among fans that Valve may include Santorini in the Active Duty map pool again in the future. FMPONE has also announced that work has begun on porting Active Duty classic Cache to CS2, which is expected to further improve upon the classic map.
Overall, the update to Santorini has generated a lot of excitement among CS:GO fans, and it will be interesting to see how it performs in the new Counter-Strike 2 game.