Valve works hard to make sure Counter-Strike 2 is fair for all players, but occasionally, someone discovers an exploit that creates an unfair advantage. Backtracking is one of those exploits. Here’s a complete explanation of what backtracking in CS2 is.
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Understanding Backtracking In CS2
Backtracking is an exploit where players take advantage of lag compensation, which is meant to balance gameplay for those with high ping. To understand how backtracking works, it helps to first look at lag compensation. When playing CS2 with a high ping—say, over 250ms—your shots might not register if an opponent moves behind cover on their screen, even if they’re still visible on yours.
Lag compensation fixes this by aligning your crosshair placement and enemy positions on your screen, allowing your shots to hit the target even if they’re already in cover on their screen. Essentially, if you shoot an opponent on your screen, lag compensation helps make sure the shot registers.
However, some players exploit this feature by artificially inflating their ping, sometimes to levels over 500ms. With an exaggerated ping, the game assumes they’re at a disadvantage and provides extra lag compensation. This means they can hit enemies even if those enemies are safely behind cover, creating an unfair advantage.
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Conclusion
While backtracking might offer a slight advantage, it’s considered a bannable offense in CS2. The benefits are minimal, making it hardly worth risking your account. That’s why most players avoid using this exploit altogether.
