How do I start a Counter-Strike 2 server at MC-Node?

Counter-Strike 2 is the biggest game on Steam, with an average of 828,000 concurrent players. With your own server, you set the rules: from scrims and retakes to surf and minigames. At MC-Node you can rent a Counter-Strike 2 server from €3.00 per month, with NVMe storage, DDoS protection and monthly cancellation. Your server is online within 1 minute.

Step 1: Order your server

1. Go to the Counter-Strike 2 page in our store.
2. Choose a plan (2 to 20 GB RAM) and a location: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland or North America. Pick the location closest to you and your players for the lowest ping.
3. Complete the order. Your server is created automatically and is online within 1 minute.

Which plan do I need?

How much RAM you need depends on what you do with the server:

• Smaller plans (from 2 GB): fine for a private server with friends, for example for scrims or retakes with a small group.
• Larger plans (up to 20 GB): suitable for busy community servers with many players, such as surf or minigame servers.

Please note: Counter-Strike 2 uses around 60 GB of disk space. Our plans run on fast NVMe drives, so installation and map loading are quick. Not sure? Start small — you can always upgrade.

Step 2: Start your server via the panel

1. Log in to the game panel via panel.mc-node.net with the details from your welcome email.
2. Open your Counter-Strike 2 server in the overview.
3. Click Start. In the Console you can see live what the server is doing. The first start can take a bit longer because the game files (around 60 GB) are being installed.
4. Wait until the console reports that the server is running.

Step 3: Connect to your server

1. Note your server's IP address and port; you can find these in the panel on the server page.
2. Start Counter-Strike 2 on your PC.
3. Open the console in the game and type connect ip:port, for example with the address from the panel.
4. Share the address with your friends so they can connect too.

Making your server public?

Want your server to be visible to everyone? Then you need a free GSLT token from Steam. You can read how to create and set one up in our article on setting up a GSLT token.

Have fun on your new server! View all plans on our Counter-Strike 2 page.