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CS2 Private Matchmaking explained

Updated: Oct 3, 2023 9:01 pm
CS2 Private Matchmaking explained

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Need to have private matchmaking in CS2 explained? This option in the latest addition to the Counter-Strike franchise can leave a lot of questions if you don’t know how to use it.

While playing with your friends in CS2 is possible through queueing in matchmaking together, many gamers want to play with their friends in lobbies to practice with friends, or just mess around. How do you use private matchmaking in CS2? We’re here to give you all the information you need.

How to use private matchmaking in CS2

Private matchmaking in CS2 allows you to create private lobbies to play matches with just those invited. In order to set up a private match, here’s what you need to do from the main menu:

  • Navigate to the Matchmaking tab under the Play menu
  • Find the Private Matchmaking tab
  • Set the lobby to Open Lobby
  • Share the lobby code or press the Shift and Tab keys to invite friends

That’s how you set up a lobby under private matchmaking to play with friends. From the private matchmaking tab, you are able to choose the game mode, the map, and other various rules. Once you have enough players in the lobby, you’re free to start the game and begin playing.

It’s important to note that if you haven’t played enough matches of Casual in CS2, the private matchmaking option with be greyed out. You will need to play matches in order to unlock it.

There are no limitations on private matches. You are free to choose any mode, from Premier mode and Competitive mode to Wingman. Your CS rating won’t matter, as private matchmaking doesn’t affect your rank. You can play with anyone. You can even play with custom workshop maps so long as everyone has it downloaded. It’s far different from the intense competitive matchmaking interactions CS2 usually has.

That being said, there are no rewards for the private games. Your rank isn’t affected, so you can’t cheat the system to boost your way up to Global Elite with party members. However, you’re able to get in tons of practice. You can still play if you’re being affected by errors before Valve can add in the bug fixes. You can even take in the beautiful graphics, even if you don’t have the best GPU for CS2.


Annie is a journalist interested in video games and tech news.

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