One of the patch’s main goals is to help improve visibility in a match, adding the “boost player contrast” option to give enemies in view more definition. To turn this new visibility option on, you’ll need to go to the “video” menu and click “advanced” where you will see a toggle with the option on. When it has been toggled, you can clearly see a small ring or light around the enemy, making them easier to spot on the blank mesh that some of the maps can look like.

Skins for Agents have also had their colors changed so that they are easier to see when shot at. To add to the clarity discussion, Valve also added large changes to some of the maps and tweaked others. For those that have been asking for more love from Valve, all it took was Valorant directly targeting its market for them to act.

You can see what the full list of changes looks like in this video.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive Patch Notes

Here are the full patch notes, straight from Valve’s website:

Gameplay

– Added the ‘Boost Player Contrast’ advanced video setting, which improves the legibility of players in low contrast situations.

Agents

– Adjusted some agent textures for improved visibility.

Misc

– Adjusted dropped C4 collision geometry.

– Fixed Danger Zone drone pilot camera getting stuck when drone received burn damage.

– Added Desert Eagle shell eject event for last bullet fired.

Rendering

– Minor texture streaming optimizations.

Maps

Overpass:

– Removed large ivy-models near bathrooms by A site

– Removed thin windows in bathrooms by A site

– Removed bicycle by picnic by A long

– Brightened up connector tunnel

– Brightened up T spawn

– Added nice stone trims

Dust 2:

– Flipped B site doors

– Simplified background when looking from B tunnels towards truck in mid

– Changed fog start distance from 1000 to 512, changed max density from .2 to .4

– Raised windows by A site ramp to make characters stand out more

Mirage:

– Removed trash pile at top of mid

– Trimmed plant by T spawn, towards apartments

– Boosted light in market window

– Fixed silent dropdown bug from B site balcony

– Changed angle of ladder in ladder-room

Inferno:

– Trimmed ivy by CT spawn towards A site arch

– Fixed CSM shadow from tower in mid

Train:

– Added new train bumper model with flat top

Cache:

– Replaced ladder to sniper’s nest with a box

– Cleaned up several important angles. (Thanks LangeThorup!)

– Added 1v1 Arenas

– Replaced cargo containers with new model for improved performance

– Visibility improvements in T entrance to A Main (Thanks Slender_CS!)

– Fixed unwanted/unintuitive wallbang in Mid Shed

– Subtle color tweaks

– Various clipping fixes

– Optimizations

Alongside the visual cue changes, official one-versus-one maps have also been added. Having a place where you can duel in pure gun play fashion is a welcome addition that I’m sure hardcore players will get a lot of use out of. Settling an argument with a Desert Eagle in the real world is a terrible idea, but in CS:GO it’s more than fair.

How do you feel about this new patch? Will it be enough to keep players invested in Counter Strike or will Riot Game’s new shiny Valorant continue to rise in popularity? Tell us in the comments.