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CS2 community servers: server browser, friends, Retakes and surf

How Counter-Strike 2 community servers work: the server browser, joining friends, Workshop maps, Retakes, surf fixes and sounds, and the server variables.

By CSgoFriendsPublished Last checked

Illustration: CounterStrikeGO

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) lets you play on community servers, join friends in custom games, load Workshop maps from the Play menu and play Retakes. Server variable defaults below are as of Valve’s console variable list from Oct. 22, 2026.

Community Server Browser

Valve wrote in the July 28, 2025 patch notes that the Community Server Browser opens in the Steam Overlay when you play in fullscreen exclusive mode.

Join friends on a community server or in a custom game

Valve wrote in its March 18, 2026 post that you can join friends directly from the Friends list whenever they are playing a custom game, whether on a community server or hosted locally. The server has to allow it.

The same day’s patch notes add that friends playing a Practice or Workshop map can be joined through the friends menu if they have Open Party set.

Host a Workshop map for friends

Valve describes the setup in the March 18, 2026 post:

  1. Subscribe to maps on the Steam Community Workshop.
  2. Open the Workshop Maps tab in the Play menu.
  3. Turn on “Open Party.”
  4. Start playing your Workshop map.

You then host a game on your machine, and your friends can join.

Retakes

Valve added Retakes as an official game mode on Oct. 22, 2025. The patch notes say it supports Defusal Group Alpha and Defusal Group Delta maps on official matchmaking servers.

Valve describes each round as a fast-paced 4v3 after-plant scenario. You select a loadout card each round, check the map to coordinate with teammates and use your resources to defuse or defend the planted bomb.

The Oct. 23, 2025 update increased the matchmaking party size for Retakes to allow four players in a party. It also fixed a case where players joining a Retakes round during freeze time could spawn at the wrong spawn point.

Map guides in Retakes

Valve wrote in the March 18, 2026 patch notes that limited map guides are available in Competitive and Retakes during the first five rounds of the half, with a maximum of 30 nodes. The Jan. 21, 2026 notes say map guides can be loaded in online games of Casual and Retakes through the ESC menu.

Surf

Valve has changed surf in these updates:

Date Change
July 28, 2025 Fixed several cases where a player would get stuck on map geometry while surfing
July 28, 2025 Added speed-sensitive sounds that play while surfing
Nov. 4, 2025 Fixed a case where air acceleration was clamped incorrectly while surfing
Nov. 4, 2025 Fixed a case where slowly surfing up a ramp was handled incorrectly because it was misidentified as a jump apex
Jan. 21, 2026 Fixed some cases where the player would collide with internal edges while sliding along a ramp in surf mode

Surf sounds

The speed-sensitive surf sounds are turned on with sv_surf_sounds. Valve wrote in the July 28, 2025 patch notes that they can be adjusted with snd_surf_volume_inair, snd_surf_volume_map and snd_surf_volume_slide.

The console variable list describes sv_surf_sounds as “Should we try to play sounds for surf?” Its default is false.

Server variables

As of Oct. 22, 2026, Valve’s console variable list gives these defaults and descriptions:

Variable Default Description in the list
sv_autobunnyhopping false Players automatically re-jump while holding jump button
sv_enablebunnyhopping false Allow jump speed to exceed 1.1x max speed
sv_surf_sounds false Should we try to play sounds for surf?
mp_respawn_on_death_ct false When set to 1, counter-terrorists will respawn after dying.

The default for sv_airaccelerate is 12.

Valve also wrote in the Jan. 21, 2026 patch notes that legacy jump behavior can be restored on private servers with sv_legacy_jump.

FAQ

Can I join a friend who is on a community server?

Yes. Valve wrote that friends can join you directly from the Friends list in a custom game on a community server, as long as the server allows it.

How do I let friends join my Workshop map?

Open the Workshop Maps tab in the Play menu and turn on “Open Party.” When you start the map, you host the game on your machine and your friends can join.

Does the Community Server Browser work in fullscreen?

Since the July 28, 2025 update, the Community Server Browser opens in the Steam Overlay when you play in fullscreen exclusive mode.

How do I turn on surf sounds?

Set sv_surf_sounds, which is false by default. The volumes can be adjusted with snd_surf_volume_inair, snd_surf_volume_map and snd_surf_volume_slide.

Is Retakes an official mode?

Yes. Valve added it as an official game mode on Oct. 22, 2025, for Defusal Group Alpha and Defusal Group Delta maps on official matchmaking servers. A matchmaking party can have up to four players.

What is the default for sv_airaccelerate?

The default in Valve’s console variable list is 12.

Sources