How to Record CS:GO and CS2 Gameplay: Video and Demos
CS:GO became CS2 in 2023, but you can still record it two ways. Here’s how to capture video, record and play demos with console commands, turn a demo into an MP4, open legacy CS:GO and check what recording does to your FPS.
To record CS:GO today, you’re almost certainly recording Counter-Strike 2, which replaced CS:GO on Steam on September 27, 2023. You have two options: capture video with a recorder, or save a demo with the game’s record console command. Use video for anything you want to share and demos for studying rounds. This guide is for CS players who want either one. It covers both, plus how to turn a demo into an MP4, how to open the legacy CS:GO build and what recording does to your frame rate. For more on the video side, see our CS2 recording guide.
Video or Demo: Which One Do You Need?
| Compare | Video recording | Demo (.dem) |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A video file that plays anywhere | Match data that plays inside the game |
| Best for | Clips, montages, sharing, team review | Free camera, other players’ views, studying rounds |
| Where it goes | Your recorder’s folder or library | The game\csgo folder, with matchmaking downloads in replays |
| Can you post it? | Yes | No, you have to screen-record it first |
How to Record CS2 Video With Insights Capture
Insights Capture is our free recorder for Windows. It detects CS2, starts recording when you connect to a server, and timestamps kills, deaths and round transitions so you can skip the scrubbing.
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Step 1: Install Insights Capture
Download the app from the Insights site, install it and sign in.
Step 2: Choose Your Settings
| Setting | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Your in-game resolution, or 1080p | Higher resolutions mean bigger files and more work for your PC |
| Frame rate | 60 FPS, or 120 if you’ll slow clips down | Our FPS guide has the details |
| Encoder | GPU, such as NVENC or AMF | Keeps encoding off your CPU |
| Bitrate, if you set one | 12 Mbps at 1080p and 60 FPS | YouTube’s recommended upload bitrate, about 5.4 GB per hour |
| Instant Replay | On, if you mostly want highlights | Saves moments with a hotkey |
Step 3: Launch Counter-Strike 2
Start the game as usual and join a server. Automatic recording starts from there.
Step 4: Record or Save Highlights
- Full matches: leave automatic recording on, or press F7 (default) to start and stop by hand.
- Highlights: turn on Instant Replay and press F6 (default) to save what just happened.
Step 5: Clip and Share
After the match, open your library, jump to a marked moment and trim the clip. Then share it or download the file for editing.
How to Record a Demo in CS2
A demo saves the match as game data, not video. It’s built in and costs nothing.
- Enable the console: Settings > Game > Enable Developer Console.
- Join a match or server and press the tilde key (~) to open the console.
- Type record clutch_round to start. Use a new name with no spaces each time.
- Type stop when you’re done.
- Type playdemo clutch_round to watch it, then demoui or Shift+F2 for playback controls.
The file lands in Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo. CS2 still uses the old folder name.
Downloading matchmaking demos
You don’t need the console for official matches. Open Watch > Your Matches in CS2 and download the match. Valve only keeps these for a limited time, so grab anything you want soon. They go in the replays subfolder, so play them with playdemo replays/filename. Big CS2 updates can also stop older demos from playing.
How to Turn a CS2 Demo Into an MP4
A .dem file won’t open in a video player or upload anywhere, so you have to play it back and capture it.
- Play the demo and use demoui to find the round.
- Start your screen recorder manually.
- Play the round, then stop the recording.
For more control, CS Demo Manager is a third-party tool that generates videos from CS2 and CS:GO demos. If a recorder was running during the match, you can skip all of this, because the video already exists.
Can You Still Record CS:GO?
Yes, in a limited way. Valve keeps a frozen build available on Steam:
- Right-click Counter-Strike 2 in your Steam library and choose Properties.
- Open the Betas tab and choose csgo_legacy.
- Wait for the download, then launch the game.
HLTV reports this build has no official matchmaking, and features that rely on Valve’s servers, such as inventory, may fail. You can still play offline with bots and open old CS:GO demos. The record and stop commands work here too. If your recorder doesn’t detect the legacy build, start it by hand.
Will Recording Lower Your FPS in CS2?
It can. Recording adds work for your CPU, GPU, memory and drive. These are the usual causes:
- CPU encoding: encoding video on your CPU competes with the game. GPU encoders avoid most of that.
- High recording settings: 1440p or 4K at high frame rates asks a lot of any PC.
- Background apps: anything else running takes resources from the game.
- A slow drive: recording to an SSD lets your drive keep up.
To see the effect on your PC, turn on an FPS counter and play the same map against bots with recording off, then on. If the gap is bigger than you’d like, switch to GPU encoding, lower your recording resolution or frame rate, and close background apps. The same test works for any recorder, including ours.
Other Ways to Record CS2
- Xbox Game Bar: built into Windows. Win + Alt + R starts and stops a recording, at 30 or 60 FPS.
- NVIDIA App or AMD Software: your graphics card’s own recorder, with Instant Replay on a hotkey.
- OBS Studio: total control, with more setup.
Compare them in how to clip on PC and our list of the best free game recorders.
See more: How to Record Call of Duty Gameplay on PC in 4K Ultra Settings
See more: How to Record Apex Legends on PC for Free: Best Software Option
FAQs: How to Record CS:GO and CS2
1. How do I record CS:GO gameplay?
CS:GO is now CS2, so you’ll usually record CS2. Use a recorder such as Insights Capture for video, or type record followed by a file name in the console to save a demo.
2. How do I record a demo in CS2?
Enable the developer console, join a server, press the tilde key and type record with a file name. Type stop when you’re done, and playdemo with the file name to watch it.
3. Where are CS2 demos saved?
In Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo. Matchmaking demos you download go in the replays folder inside it.
4. How do I convert a CS2 demo to MP4?
A .dem file isn’t a video, so you can’t just convert it in a video tool. Play the demo in CS2 and screen-record it, or use a third-party tool such as CS Demo Manager.
5. Can you still play and record CS:GO?
Yes, in a limited way. In Steam, open Properties for CS2, go to Betas and choose csgo_legacy. There’s no official matchmaking, but you can still play offline with bots and record it.
6. Does recording lower FPS in CS2?
It can, because recording adds work for your PC. Use GPU encoding, then compare the same map with recording on and off to see the difference on your hardware.
7. What FPS should I record CS2 at?
60 FPS for most clips, and 120 FPS if you plan to slow them down. Your recording frame rate doesn’t need to match the frame rate you play at.
Final Thoughts
Record video when you want something to share, and use demos when you want to study a round from every angle. Most players end up using both. If you’d like the video side handled for you, Insights Capture is free, and the CS2 recording guide goes further on settings and team review.
