CS2 Premier Season 4 Update: Anubis Changes, SMG Buff, Limited Edition AK-47, New Maps and Collections

CS2 Premier Season 4 Update: Anubis Changes, SMG Buff, Limited Edition AK-47, New Maps and Collections

Ganesh Jadhav

22 Jan, 2026, 01:34

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Last updated: 22 Jan, 2026, 01:39

The first (and long awaited) CS2 update of the year is finally here. The Premier Season 4 Update doesn’t just kick off the new competitive season, but brings back Anubis to replace Train, SMG Buffs, New Community maps, and two new weapon collections.

Let’s get through this one at a time.

CS2 Premier Season 4 Game Updates

As discussed in a previous article, Anubis will return for Season 4 replacing Train, but that’s not all. The map is tweaked slightly to give a slightly different look.

The biggest change to the map is the shift of bridge drop, which makes the T-rotation slightly delayed. Additionally, the Ts now have to control the entire bridge before they can rotate out to B via drop.

All the changes to Anubis are as follows: 

  • Bridge drop moved near Mid Doors
  • Mid doors orientation reversed
  • Hole added between Connector and Back of B
  • Bombsite A crates moved up steps on to Walkway
  • Scaffolding added to pillar on Bombsite A

SMGs Are Buffed!

Along with Anubis changes, SMGs, particularly the MP7 and MP5-SD, have gotten buffs. The change is meant to improve their viability and help them compete with the MP9 and Shotguns that dominate the category. PP-Bizon’s price is also reduced to make the option of buying it more economically sensible.

  • Minor adjustments to the MP7 and MP5-SD:
    • Slightly increased damage
    • Slightly reduced damage fall-off
    • Reduced price by $100
  • Reduced price of the PP-Bizon by $100

Jump Changes

Players that have followed the final few updates of 2025 know that the devs have been working to ensure bunnyhops and movement of CS2 is comparable to that of CS:GO. Continuing on the series is another update which now simplifies bhops. To understand these changes, though, you have to hop in the server.

  • Landing time is now calculated with subtick precision.
  • Jumping and landing no longer affect stamina. The landing speed penalty is now a simple function of landing time.
  • Any jump press within sv_bhop_time_window centered on the landing time that hasn't been penalized by sv_jump_spam_penalty_time will be treated as a successful bunnyhop.
  • Legacy jump behavior can be restored on private servers with sv_legacy_jump.

Sound Changes

Part of the user experience is sound, and with this update Valve has lowered the output latency of audio, improving how the game is heard. There is also new draw and inspect audio for knives and weapons.

  • Reduced audio output latency.
  • Higher fidelity knife draw and inspect sounds.
  • Weapon, knife and utility draw sounds no longer overlap when switching quickly between them.
  • Knife impact sounds are now unique based on primary fire or alt fire swings as well as front and rear attacks. This reflects the different damage amounts dealt with each attack.
  • Ambient sounds no longer restart from the beginning when transitioning between zones.

Community Maps

With the update, new community maps will replace the existing ones. This means that Warden, Stronghold and Alpine will replace Golden, Palacio in Casual, Competitive and Deathmatch modes, and Agency and Sanctum and Poseidon will replace Rooftop in Wingman mode.

  • Removed community maps: Golden, Palacio, Agency, and Rooftop from all game modes
  • Added community maps: Warden, Stronghold, and Alpine to Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch modes
  • Added community maps: Sanctum and Poseidon to Wingman mode

Skins!

Last but not least: Skins! With the update, Valve introduces two new collections to the weekly drop pool:

  • Harlequin: Colorful set of skins based on checkered Harlequin costumes

    CS2 Premier Season 4 update: Harlequin Collection (credits: Valve)
    CS2 Premier Season 4 update: Harlequin Collection (credit: Valve)
  • Achroma: Set of Monotone skins

 

 

CS2 Premier Season 4 update Achroma Collection
CS2 Premier Season 4 update: Achroma Collection (credit: Valve)

These two are exclusively obtained via the weekly drop or community market. Additionally, Safehouse, Dust 2, 2018 Nuke, and the 2018 Inferno Collections are permanently removed from the drop pool.

And lastly, a new limited edition AK-47 | Aphrodite. Available until June 14th, the new limited edition item costs 125 stars i.e. ~$50.

New Limited Edition Ak-47 | Aphrodite (Credits: Valve)

Where Is Cache?

While the update did not introduce Cache or Cobble, the official CS2 X account teased the former map’s inclusion in an upcoming update.

You can read the complete patch notes for the update here.


Don't forget to check out Strafe Esports for all the latest Counter-Strike 2 news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: Valve

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