Two leading players of the global Counter-Strike scene — Nikola “NiKo” Kovač from Falcons and İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş from Aurora — publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the latest CS2 update. Their comments focused on shooting changes and overall gameplay feel. This triggered an active reaction among fans and the professional scene, especially since the upcoming official matches will already be played on the new patch.
WHO ARE NIKO AND XANTARES
NiKo — a Bosnian star rifler, has been competing at the highest level for over a decade. He is 28 years old and currently plays for Falcons. NiKo is known as one of the world’s best aimers, having been ranked in the HLTV Top 20 for 8 years in a row (best achievements: #2 in 2017 and 2021). Over his career, he has earned more than $1.7 million in prize money, and his consistency and ability to perform under pressure make him one of the most influential players in the discipline.
XANTARES — the main star of Turkish CS, 30 years old, captain and leader of Aurora Gaming. He is famous for his unique playstyle and the signature “XANTARES peek.” In 2024 he placed 15th in the HLTV ranking, and his total prize winnings exceed $600,000. His influence in Turkish esports makes him not only the leading player but also the face of the scene.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
The update that changed the spray-control mechanics drew sharp criticism from both professionals.
NiKo directly stated that every update makes the game worse:
How can they make game feel even worse every fcking time
His words highlight the growing frustration among top-level players: bugs and failed experiments with mechanics affect professional tournaments, where stability and predictability are crucial.
XANTARES emphasized the technical side, explaining that shooting feels “broken” after the update:
This update completely destroyed the spray — CS feels broken and ridiculous now. And the funny thing is, we’ll have to play in the tournament with this new update
He pointed out the main issue: while big tournament matches are already scheduled, professionals will have to play on an untested patch, which could distort results.
COMMUNITY REACTION
NiKo and XANTARES’s comments became a catalyst for community debate. Thousands of players and fans shared their opinions:
ItsMarrchy:
Finally someone said it i thought i was going insane
renyanFPS:
LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK
bibanator:
CS2 is a very good game, you have no clue. Valve is the best game dev company on earth.
Frughie:
Please complain about the anti cheat as well, maybe they will add it after 15 years.
The reaction was mixed but clearly showed a split within the community. A large part supported NiKo and XANTARES, believing that professionals voiced concerns many had long felt. This wave of emotional support highlights how important honest criticism from top players is to the community.
Another part sided with Valve, stressing their contribution to the development of Counter-Strike and believing the company is moving in the right direction. Sarcastic comments were also present: users joked about the lack of an effective anti-cheat for years and doubted Valve’s priorities, hinting at commercial interests.
The general sentiment in the community can be summed up as “one step forward, ten steps back” — every update seems to push the game backward instead of cementing positive changes.
TODAY’S UPDATE
On September 19, Valve released an additional patch aimed at fixing technical issues after the main update. Specifically:
- Opened access to Genesis Terminal in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France;
- Fixed purchase errors via Steam Wallet in many countries, including Ukraine, Japan, India, and Chile;
- Fixed nametag and StatTrak module placement on Shadow Daggers;
- Added JavaScript support in map scripting and fixed several critical bugs related to parameters and functions;
- Improved movement stability through changes in subtick movement acceleration.
While these fixes improved the technical state of the game, they did not address the core issue highlighted by NiKo and XANTARES — the changes in spray-control. Thus, the key complaints from professionals remain valid, and their dissatisfaction may increase pressure on Valve.
CONCLUSION
The situation around the latest CS2 update demonstrates a deep gap between developers and the professional scene. For Valve, maintaining stability during major tournaments is crucial, yet new mechanics are being tested directly in “combat conditions.”
The statements from NiKo and XANTARES may become a starting point for further dialogue between the community and the developers. If shooting changes truly impact tournament results negatively, it could call into question the competitive integrity of CS2.
