What Is Sub-tick and How Does It Work?

In Counter-Strike 2, a revolutionary concept, the sub-tick, emerges as a game-changer, disrupting conventional notions tied to tickrate in CS2. The sub-tick system, a departure from the fixed intervals of ticks, meticulously captures the nuanced timing of player actions, transcending the limitations of traditional tick rates.

Unlike CS2, where ticks encompass snapshots of the game world at predetermined moments, CS2’s sub-tick system ensures precision by recognizing the exact instances of player movements, shots, and maneuvers. This evolution promises a more responsive and fluid gaming experience, reshaping the landscape of competitive gameplay in CS2.

What is CS2 Tick Rate?

To grasp the concept of a sub-tick, it’s essential to first understand what Counter-Strike 2 tick rate is. A tick encapsulates a frozen snapshot of all ongoing events on the game map — a moment in time that encompasses the actions and positions of all players. The term “tick” itself denotes a “moment” or “second,” representing the smallest discernible unit of time. In CS2 matchmaking, game servers update the game world’s state 64 times per second, translating to roughly every 15.6 milliseconds. During each tick, the server and clients (the players’ computers) exchange information, ensuring synchronization among all participants in the match.

Consequently, 128-tickrate servers exchange information twice as frequently, approximately every 7.8 milliseconds. The term “approximately” accounts for variations in pauses between transmissions, typically calculated in fractions of milliseconds, having negligible impact on the game. Maybe you will have to adjust your mouse sensitivity to play better in new circumstances.

How Does Sub-Tick work?

Unlike the conventional use of tick rates to assess movement and shooting within set time intervals, Counter-Strike 2 is introducing a novel system that addresses the limitation of overlooking the time between ticks. Historically, the fractions of a second between actions and tick registration occasionally led to well-aimed shots missing their targets. Enhance your aiming skills by dedicated practice on the best aim training maps.

This development holds the potential to be a game-changer, potentially positioning Counter-Strike 2 as the top choice for professional first-person-shooter players in the industry.

Are the New CS2 Sub-Ticks Superior to 64 and 128 Ticks?

Lacking official data on the subject, community research provides insights. YouTuber MrMaxim utilized Wireshark, a network monitoring tool, to analyze the networking behavior of different Counter-Strike servers: a 64-tick Valve official server, a 128-tick community server, and a CS2 server with sub-ticks. His findings reveal that the time between packets on the CS2 server closely aligns with the 128-tick server. The CS2 server exhibits near-instantaneous packet times, indicative of sub-tick principles prioritizing specific in-game actions for immediate transmission. While speculative, this data suggests benefits comparable to the 128-tick rate, marking a potential improvement.

Despite the introduction of a new sub-tick system in CS2, a significant portion of the community perceives it as inferior to the 128-tick rate servers available on third-party platforms like FACEIT in CS2. Conversely, some players find the update to be an improvement over the 64 Hz servers. While the distinction between 64-tick and 128-tick may go unnoticed for most casual players, CS legend s1mple expresses the opinion that CS2’s matchmaking servers feel worse, especially at the time of the full release.

Decoding CS2’s Sub-Tick System

CS2’s sub-tick system introduces a novel approach to time intervals, aiming to enhance the precision of player actions between ticks, ultimately improving gameplay responsiveness. While the community’s reception is varied, with debates on its efficacy compared to 128-tick rate servers, the sub-tick system represents a step towards refining the competitive experience. The ongoing discussions within the community and the analysis of server behaviors contribute to a better understanding of the sub-tick system’s impact. As CS2 evolves, the sub-tick intricacies will likely be scrutinized further, influencing the game’s competitive landscape and addressing player concerns.