Premier mode is a new gameplay mode in Counter-Strike 2 that was added in August 2023. It is an alternative ranked mode that is more serious than the standard competitive mode. Premier mode is Valves official competition to third-party matchmaking services like FACEIT, and it serves as a step to pro for aspiring players. Players earn points for competing in Premier mode, and they accumulate points for each victory, slowly inching their way up the CS2 leaderboards. Premier mode matches are MR12, which means teams play twelve rounds a side, and the first team to reach 13 rounds wins the match and earns points for the leaderboard.
Premier mode features a pick/ban phase instead of Competitive’s map selection, and all of the maps in CS2 are queued at the same time, meaning that players are unable to select a particular set of options. The CS rating system for Premier mode decides a players skill level against other players, and it provides players with ranks ranging from Silver to Global Elite in CS: GO. After ten completed matches, players receive a public ranking, and there are multiple leaderboards, including for smaller regions and friends.
To access Premier mode in CS2, players need to have Prime Status, which can be purchased from the Steam store for $14.99/£11.99. Premier mode is a necessary addition to the game as it will help players find a route to go pro.
