CS2’s latest patch has caused a wave of disappointment in the player base. One of the most talked-about parts of the update is the shift to a new animation system, AnimGraph2. This change, while meant to improve gameplay flow, has caused many high-value knives to glitch. 

Fans who paid large sums for rare skins like the Butterfly Doppler (Black Pearl) are now seeing broken blade flips, knives clipping through hands, and wrong blade angles. These aren’t small bugs, but are flaws that hit deep for players who care about style and detail.

Butterfly knife takes the biggest hit

The Butterfly Knife is known as one of CS2’s flashiest and most wanted knives. Cheap ones go for US$800 or more, while rare ones like the Gamma Doppler (Emerald) hit the US$22,000 mark. Right after the patch went live, clips of the knife behaving strangely spread online. 

Players saw the blade flip backwards, vanish into arms, or bend at odd spots. It wasn’t just the Butterfly. Other knives like the Nomad, Flip, and M9 Bayonet also showed odd movement in clips posted by players. Valve has yet to fix the issue fully.

One pro, Justinas ‘jL�?Lekavičius, who is also a Natus Vincere (NAVI) content creator, was quick to share his thoughts. Though recently benched from top play, jL still tracks game changes closely. He said the patch 'ruined the Butterfly and AK' but did admit the new reload moves were well made. 

AK-47 sound sparks mixed views

The AK-47 did not escape the changes either. Along with new animations, the sound of this popular rifle has changed. Some players welcomed the new feel. Others, like ex-pro Erik ‘fl0m�?Flom, were not pleased. He said the AK now sounds plastic and cheap. For long-time fans, this is not the first time CS sound has caused debate. Back in 2016, the AK sound was updated in CSGO, which also drew strong views. Sound is key in CS, and any change is bound to stir strong words.

Map updates: Adjust inferno, overpass, and train

While animations get most of the talk, the map changes may shape the game more. Inferno’s B site now has a wider Garden entry, giving CTs a better shot at taking it back. Before, CTs rarely tried to retake B, but now they can throw fire at Ts hiding by the new box. Over at A site, the old Balcony rail is back, forcing Ts to jump over and slow their push.

Train and Overpass also saw tweaks. Overpass got new angles at the A site truck, Heaven rail, and wall behind A. Train got boxes near Hell and Z, with barrels added to give AWP users a peek at Popdog and A main without much risk.

What’s next for CS2 players?

For now, players must wait to see how Valve deals with the broken knife's looks and odd sounds. Some love the new style. Others miss the old ways. However, if there’s one clear thing, CS2 changes will always get strong views, good or bad.

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British CS2 pro player William ‘Mezii�?Merriman has made esports history by becoming the first player to get a custom hashtag on X (formerly Twitter). The Team Vitality player now has two branded hashtags: #kingmezii and #mEZii, both showing a yellow-and-black ‘M�?with a crown, reflecting his rising status.

Mezii revealed them on July 23, 2025, with X’s official UK account and many big names joining the online celebration. He also teased a major update coming on July 25.

This year has been huge for Mezii. In June, he became the first UK player to win a CS Major when Team Vitality took the top prize at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. Since February, the team has not lost a single event, winning titles at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), BLAST Open Spring, BLAST Rivals, and ESL Pro League Season 21.

Mezii is now seen as one of the UK’s top esports stars. Based on data from Esports Earnings, he has earned $935,135 (£690,868) in career winnings, second only to Jaden ‘Wolfiez�?Ashman, who made $1.3m (£960,469) in Fortnite.

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