Game Error CS2

CS2 Resolution Glitch - Game Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 4 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Force a correct resolution via Steam launch options using the command "-w 1920 -h 1080" and verify the integrity of the game files.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The CS2 Resolution Glitch is a configuration error where the game launches with an incorrect or unsupported display resolution. This error prevents proper rendering of the game's graphical user interface. The issue affects the Windows platform exclusively, as it typically stems from Windows-specific display configuration conflicts or corrupted user data. It occurs across all current public versions of Counter-Strike 2. This is a common error following graphics driver updates, operating system changes, or improper game shutdowns. The severity is game-breaking, as it renders the main menu and in-game interfaces non-functional or unclickable, preventing normal gameplay. No specific error code is generated; the failure is purely graphical and behavioral.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application launches but renders at an incorrect resolution, often lower than the system's native display setting. The game's menu elements, including buttons and navigation prompts, appear misaligned, disproportionately large or small, or extend beyond the visible screen area. This misalignment makes precise cursor interaction impossible, as the clickable areas do not correspond with the visual elements. The error occurs immediately upon reaching the main menu screen after launch. The user experiences a functional interface failure where mouse clicks do not register on the intended menu options, rendering the software unusable for matchmaking or settings adjustment.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: The video.txt or videodefaults.txt configuration file in the user's CS2 data directory contains corrupted or invalid resolution values. The game reads these values on launch and attempts to apply them, resulting in a mismatch with the display adapter's supported modes. Why this causes the problem: The game engine initializes the display context with parameters the GPU or monitor cannot correctly map, causing interface scaling failures. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party display management software (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, Windows Display Scaling) overrides the game's resolution request with an incompatible scaling factor or custom resolution. Why this causes the problem: The conflict between the game's output and the post-processing scaling layer distorts the final framebuffer. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A mismatch between the resolution setting stored in the Steam Cloud and the local configuration file creates a conflict during initialization, where the game applies a default safe-mode resolution. Why this causes the problem: The initialization routine fails to reconcile the two data sources and defaults to a low-resolution fallback. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: The GPU driver reports an incorrect list of supported display modes to the game engine, often due to a corrupted driver installation or an outdated driver database. Why this causes the problem: CS2 selects a resolution from this faulty list, which the driver or monitor then fails to display correctly. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: The launch options in Steam contain erroneous or conflicting display-related commands that supersede the in-game settings file. Why this causes the problem: Command-line arguments force the game into a display mode that is not properly handled by the current desktop environment.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Apply Resolution Launch Options

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
Right-click on "Counter-Strike 2" and select "Properties".
In the "General" tab, locate the text field labeled "Launch Options".
Enter the following command with your monitor's native resolution: -w 1920 -h 1080 -fullscreen. Replace 1920 and 1080 with your specific width and height in pixels.
Close the properties window and launch Counter-Strike 2.

Technical Explanation: This command forces the Source 2 engine to initialize with explicit width and height parameters and fullscreen mode, bypassing any corrupted or incorrect values stored in local configuration files. Verification: Upon launch, the game displays at the specified resolution. Menu elements align correctly with cursor input areas, allowing normal navigation.

Solution 2: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5-10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
Right-click on "Counter-Strike 2" and select "Properties".
Select the "Installed Files" tab.
Click the "Verify integrity of game files" button.
Wait for the process to complete. Steam will download and replace any missing or corrupted files.
Restart Steam and launch Counter-Strike 2.

Technical Explanation: This process compares the local game installation against the official Steam manifest, replacing corrupted core game binaries and configuration templates that may be causing the display subsystem to malfunction. Verification: The verification dialog reports "All files successfully validated." The game launches without requiring forced resolution commands.

Solution 3: Delete Local Configuration Files

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Ensure Counter-Strike 2 and Steam are fully closed.
Navigate to the CS2 user data folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[YOUR_STEAM_ID]\730\local\cfg\. Replace [YOUR_STEAM_ID] with your numeric Steam ID.
Locate and delete the following files: video.txt and videodefaults.txt.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg\.
Delete any file named video.cfg or similar video configuration files in this directory.
Restart Steam and launch Counter-Strike 2. The game will generate new, default configuration files.

Technical Explanation: This removes the corrupted configuration data that the game reads on startup. Upon relaunch, the game engine detects the missing files and creates new ones based on your current hardware detection, establishing a clean display configuration. Verification: The game launches with default settings and prompts you to confirm video settings. The newly created video.txt file appears in the userdata directory.

Solution 4: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access required Steps:

Press Windows Key + X and select "Device Manager".
Expand "Display adapters", right-click your GPU, and select "Uninstall device". Check the box "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" and click "Uninstall".
Restart your computer. Windows will install a basic display driver.
Visit your GPU manufacturer's website (NVIDIA or AMD) and download the latest stable Game Ready or Adrenalin driver package.
Run the installer, select "Custom (Advanced)" installation, and check "Perform a clean installation". Complete the installation and restart.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver installation resets the Windows DirectX and Vulkan runtime libraries, clears the driver's internal display mode database, and ensures the GPU reports an accurate list of supported resolutions to applications. Verification: The Device Manager shows the new driver version without warning symbols. Other games and applications display correctly at native resolution.

Solution 5: Disable Full-Screen Optimizations and Override DPI Scaling

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator access may be required. Steps:

Navigate to the CS2 executable: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\bin\win64\.
Right-click on cs2.exe and select "Properties".
Select the "Compatibility" tab.
Check the box "Disable full-screen optimizations".
Click "Change high DPI settings".
Check the box "Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by:" and select "Application" from the dropdown menu.
Click "OK" on all open dialog boxes.
Launch the game from Steam.

Technical Explanation: This prevents Windows from applying its own composition and scaling layers to the game's full-screen output, allowing CS2 to have exclusive control over the display mode and scaling. Verification: The game runs in a true exclusive full-screen mode, and Windows scaling settings do not affect the in-game interface.

Solution 6: Reset Steam Launch Options and In-Game Video Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

In Steam, right-click Counter-Strike 2, select "Properties", and delete all text from the "Launch Options" field. Close the window.
Navigate to the CS2 user data folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[YOUR_STEAM_ID]\730\local\cfg\.
Open the video.txt file with Notepad.
Change the following setting lines to read:

` "setting.defaultres" "1920" "setting.defaultresheight" "1080" "setting.fullscreen" "1" "setting.nowindowborder" "0" `

Save and close the file. Set the file to "Read-only" by right-clicking it, selecting "Properties", and checking "Read-only".
Launch Counter-Strike 2.

Technical Explanation: This ensures no command-line arguments interfere and locks the configuration file to specific, valid resolution values, preventing the game or other software from modifying them. Verification: The game launches at the resolution specified in the video.txt file, and the settings persist between launches.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a consistent display configuration in the Windows operating system. Update graphics drivers on a scheduled basis, preferably using a clean installation option every major driver release. Avoid using third-party display scaling or "game optimizer" software that modifies application-specific settings. Regularly verify the integrity of Steam game files, especially after major game updates or system changes. Monitor the video.txt configuration file for unauthorized changes. Configure Steam Cloud synchronization for game settings, but be prepared to manually manage local configuration files if conflicts arise.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Steam Support or Valve developer support only after exhaustively testing all listed solutions and confirming the issue persists across multiple display modes and monitor connections. Prior to contact, gather the following diagnostic information: the complete video.txt and videodefaults.txt configuration files, the Steam System Information report (Steam > Help > System Information), and the Windows DirectX Diagnostic Tool report (dxdiag). Provide a detailed account of the tested solutions and their outcomes. Official support channels are accessible via the Steam Help site or the Counter-Strike 2 official website.