Best CS2 launch options for FPS and performance (2026)
Counter-Strike 2 players are always looking for new ways to improve performance, get more frames per second (FPS) and make the game smoother. One of the easiest ways to do this is with CS2 launch options, which let you set commands in Steam that run every time the game starts.
We will go over all the best CS2 launch options for FPS and performance. Whether you play on a low-end PC or a powerful gaming rig, you will find launch options worth using in Counter-Strike 2.
How to set CS2 launch options
Setting launch options for CS2 is very simple and only takes a few seconds.
Right-click CS2 in Steam
Click "Properties"
Find the "Launch Options" field on the "General" tab
Enter your CS2 launch options
The best CS2 launch options explained
Below we cover the most popular CS2 launch options and explain what each of them does in the game. That way you can make an informed choice about which launch options to use in CS2, whatever your goal.
-high
-high is one of the most important CS2 launch options for more FPS. It makes Counter-Strike run with a higher CPU scheduling priority, which should help with input latency and micro-stutters. It has caused instability for some users, so if that happens to you, simply remove the command.
-threads X
-threads controls how many CPU threads the game uses, which should give you a higher minimum FPS. In this CS2 launch option, replace "X" with the number of threads of your processor. You can find this in your PC's Task Manager.
+fps_max 0
+fps_max 0 removes the FPS cap in Counter-Strike 2. For this launch option to work, you also need to turn off vertical sync (VSync) in the CS2 video settings. This is especially useful with a high refresh rate monitor, so you can enjoy the game the way it is meant to be played.
-nojoy
-nojoy disables the controller API and stops you from playing CS2 with a gamepad. But let's be honest — who plays CS2 with a controller anyway? The performance gain comes from fewer background requests, but it is minimal. If you don't play with a controller, this option is worth adding to your CS2 launch options.
-softparticlesdefaultoff
-softparticlesdefaultoff gives you a little extra FPS by turning off the blending of particle effects with the background. You will only get a small improvement from adding this option to CS2, but every little bit counts.
+r_drawparticles 0
+r_drawparticles 0 turns off particle animations completely. This reduces the load on your graphics card (GPU), which should mean better performance and more FPS.
-fullscreen
-fullscreen makes Counter-Strike 2 start in fullscreen mode. You can also set this in the in-game video settings, and most players have it on by default. If not, add it to your CS2 launch options.
-forcenovsync
-forcenovsync turns off vertical sync. For most players VSync is not worth it, and if needed it is better to use a command that caps your FPS.
-vulkan
-vulkan makes Counter-Strike 2 use the Vulkan graphics API instead of DirectX 11. This is not a CS2 launch option that suits every player, as which graphics API works better depends entirely on your graphics card. Try this launch option and compare performance with and without it.
+cl_forcepreload 1
+cl_forcepreload 1 makes Counter-Strike 2 load assets such as models, textures and shaders when the game starts. This should improve loading times when you connect to a match and reduce stutters during fights.
-novid
-novid is a great time saver that every CS2 player should have in their launch options. It removes the Valve intro from the game and makes start-up much faster. It won't add FPS, but it is still useful, especially if the game crashes and you are rushing back into the match before you get a loss. Note: this does not remove the Counter-Strike 2 start video, only the Valve screen.
-allow_third_party_software
-allow_third_party_software allows third-party applications to run alongside the CS2 client. Note: this obviously won't help with cheating in Counter-Strike 2. The command is meant for software like OBS and HLAE, which won't work without this option in your CS2 launch options.
+mat_disable_fancy_blending 1
+mat_disable_fancy_blending 1 makes the game's textures less detailed, as the game no longer blends them in the "fancy" way Valve describes. As a result, this CS2 launch option is recommended for more FPS.
+r_dynamic 0
+r_dynamic 0 turns off some dynamic lighting in the game, which is great for better performance.
What are the best CS2 launch options for FPS?
The best CS2 launch options for FPS will vary depending on your PC. However, there are a few settings every player can use to improve performance — add these launch options to CS2:
+fps_max 0 -forcenovsync -high -nojoy -novid -fullscreen
After that you can experiment with the other launch options to see what gives you the best FPS. Keep in mind that the main performance gains come from tuning the CS2 video settings.
Best CS2 launch options for a low-end PC
If you play on a low-end PC, use the following CS2 launch options:
-threads X -nojoy -novid +fps_max 150 +cl_forcepreload 1 +mat_disable_fancy_blending 1 +r_dynamic 0 -softparticlesdefaultoff -fullscreen
