Can you play left hand in CS2? How to switch to left-handed view model in Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2, the sequel to the legendary CS:GO, aims to deliver a superior gaming experience, but at launch, left-handed players were unable to get their preferred view model. Thankfully, Valve has finally put the issue to rest – here’s how to play left-handed in CS2.

Upon launching Counter-Strike 2 for the first time, the default configuration places players in a right-handed perspective. Your in-game player model will wield weapons and other gear such as grenades and smokes with their right hand.

Many players chose to swap to a left-handed view in the original CS:GO, either due to preference or to simply move the weapon model out of the way. So, it’s no surprise players want to use the option in CS2 as well.

Is left-hand view in CS2?

Left-handed ViewModel is available in CS2 after the April 25 update.

It’s unclear why the option was left out in the release of Counter-Strike 2, as the option to change viewmodels has been around since the early days of CSGO.

However, after seven months of protesting and begging by the community, Valve has finally delivered in an update brought in late April.

And as shown off in a teaser video released by Valve, the setting will largely be the same as in CSGO, with players being able to switch between viewmodels mid-game.

How to switch hands in CS2

In the CS2 settings, you can now select your “Preferred ViewModel Left/Right Handedness” setting, to set a default.

To change sides on the fly, there is a new key bind option for “Switch Viewmodel Left/Right Hand”. By default, this will be bound to H. If you already use H for another key, or want to switch it, just change it in the keybind settings or by using the console.

Why use left hand in CS2?

If you are left-handed, it’s obvious why you might prefer to use a left-hand view in the game. If you are right-handed, you might think that using a left-handed ViewModel is pointless.

However, even many right-handed players use a command to quickly switch between left and right hands. This is because the weapon and your character’s arms can sometimes block the view, so switching it quickly frees up your vision on one side.

In CS2, the first-person perspective is now network sided, meaning spectators will also see if you are using left or right-hand view model.