How to record match demos in CS2

Demos in Counter-Strike allow players to go through their or someone else’s previous matches. Whether you’re looking to learn from the pros or improve from your mistakes, here’s how you can record demos in CS2.

Valve have released CS2 for everyone to enjoy, with the new sub-tick servers that offer an improved in-game experience. The franchise’s latest iteration also comes with plenty of upgrades and map overhauls, as the game is set to give Valorant tough competition.

With new players on the rise, not much has changed when it comes to the core gameplay in CS2. However, if you’re used to downloading your demos through the in-game feature, you’ll no longer be able to do so.

The devs have disabled this feature temporarily to increase server availability for more people. So, if you’re wondering how to record your matches in CS2, we’ve listed all the methods for you below.

How to record matches in CS2

There are two ways to record your matches in CS2, one is by using the console commands, and the other is by using third-party applications like the OBS.

How to record demos in CS2 using console commands

• Let your CS2 match start.
• Open the developer console before the first round begins.
• In the console, type “record test,” with “test” as your demo file’s name. You can set any name you want for your demos.
• You can stop the game from recording the demo by typing “stop” in the console.

To view your demo in CS2, you can simply type “playdemo name” on the developer console. However, if doing this crashes your game or gives you an error, then you’ll have to resort to another way to record your matches in CS2.

How to record your matches in CS2 using OBS

• Download and install OBS from the official website.
• When you start OBS for the first time, you’ll receive an Auto-Configuration Wizard pop-up. Click ‘Yes’ and select the option to ‘Optimize for recording.’
• To capture your CS2 game screen, you’ll need to add a source. 
• Under the ‘Sources’ section click on the + sign and choose ‘Game Capture.’
• Set up your audio levels and the microphone as well if necessary.
• Click on ‘Start Recording’ towards the bottom right of the OBS window to start recording your matches in CS2.

Keep in mind that third-party applications like the OBS significantly impact your PC’s performance while recording. If you’re experiencing FPS drops or lag with the OBS recording in the background, you can either lower the in-game video settings or the file quality for the recording to help lower the stress on the GPU and CPU.

There you have it! That’s all you need to know to start recording your match demos in CS2. For more on Counter-Strike 2, make sure to check out the following:

Best guns in CS2: Weapons tier list | How to convert Valorant to CS2 mouse sensitivity | Best CS:GO & CS2 crosshair codes used by pros | Is Counter-Strike 2 on macOS or Linux? | How to show FPS in Counter-Strike 2: Enable & disable commands | Best Counter-Strike 2 PC settings: High FPS, resolution, and more | How to change FOV in CS2 | Can you play CS2 on console? Is there a PlayStation & Xbox version? | Best NVIDIA Reflex settings for CS2