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Valve has explained how it handled the delicate task of giving Dust II, one of its most beloved Counter-Strike: Global Offensive maps, a facelift for the modern age.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

October 11, 2017

1 Min Read

The classic Counter-Strike: Global Offensive map Dust II has been given a facelift by Valve. The revamped playground bears the same name as its original form, but comes with a fresh coat of paint in an effort to capture the essence of the original while 'buffing away the jagged edges.'

While that's great news for CS:GO players, what's more interesting for developers is the way Valve went about reimagining the quintessential map. 

The studio has posted a lengthy explainer detailing the method behind its madness, and it's an interesting read for anybody curious about level design. 

For instance, Valve has attempted to improve the flow of gameplay by removing cars from certain section of the map so players can maneuver more easily. 

Other little touches, like the removal of pesky drain pipes and the simplification of scaffolding, will also improve combat by making it easier for players to peek around corners and toss frags. 

Of course, those are just a few of the tweaks Valve has implemented. The studio has been hard at work touching up the visuals and playing around with other features like lighting and cover. 

Head on over to the official Counter-Strike website for the full breakdown, which is packed with side-by-side comparison sliders -- just for you. 

Update: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that the changes involved reworking Dust into the current Dust II. It has since been updated to correct this error.

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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