The Counter-Strike 2 community is actively discussing potential performance regressions following recent Windows updates. A number of players have reported noticeable FPS drops and degraded frame-time stability, an especially sensitive issue for competitive play where consistency and strong 1% lows are critical.
Benchmark data from CS2 Kitchen
The discussion was sparked by a post from CS2 Kitchen, who shared comparative CS2 benchmarks before and after installing recent Windows updates.
According to the published results:
- Average FPS dropped from ~786 to ~675
- 1% percentile FPS decreased from 329.9 to 278.6
- 1% low average FPS fell from 305.3 to 254.7
While overall performance remains high, the decline in low-end metrics directly impacts perceived smoothness and input consistency during high-pressure situations.
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Criticism of Windows updates
In his post, CS2 Kitchen strongly criticized Microsoft, suggesting that the latest Windows updates once again had a negative effect on gaming performance. At the same time, he clarified that the issue may not be tied to a single patch, but rather a combination of multiple updates, and stated that a more detailed breakdown will follow.
Community reaction
Community responses have been mixed. Some players confirmed performance issues after updating Windows, reporting new instability and rare crash-to-desktop incidents that had not occurred in hundreds of matches prior. Several users specifically mentioned crashes on Ancient, further raising concerns.
Others, however, reported no issues at all. One user cited a system running an RTX 5090 and Ryzen 9850X3D, achieving over 900 average FPS with stable 1% lows. This contrast suggests the issue may be highly system-dependent, influenced by hardware configurations, BIOS versions, or specific Windows builds.
Discussion around possible causes
The comment section quickly shifted toward speculation about the underlying cause of the regression. Common theories included:
- the impact of recent Windows security updates;
- differing behavior across Intel and AMD platforms;
- interactions with BIOS and microcode changes applied alongside OS updates.
Some users also expressed interest in testing alternative builds, such as Windows 10 LTSC 21H2, under identical conditions.
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Temporary workarounds and next steps
CS2 Kitchen also noted that systems using capframex may not exhibit the same level of performance degradation. Meanwhile, a familiar recommendation resurfaced within the community: delaying Windows updates on stable systems used primarily for CS2.
For now, the situation remains unclear. The performance drop does not appear universal, but it is significant enough to warrant attention. Further controlled testing will be required to determine whether the issue stems from Windows itself, specific patches, or particular system configurations that are especially sensitive to OS-level changes.
