New CS:GO update adds Zoo and Abbey to matchmaking

In an update released yesterday, Valve has made several changes to CS:GO with regards to playable maps, alongside several miscellaneous improvements.

Zoo and Abbey will be added to the casual and deathmatch playlists, taking the place of Subzero and Austria which will be removed from the game. In the coming weeks, these two maps will be added to competitive matchmaking so you can climb the ladder with some new scenery. Valve is also adding a revised version of Vertigo as a new map for Wingman, CS:GO's 2v2 game mode.

Not content with just adding maps, Valve is also improving many aspects of Biome. These changes include removing certain small parts of the map, adding a ladder to mid-upper entry, fixing clipping issues, and improving overall performance. As for miscellaneous improvements there are the following:

. Accounts are now automatically upgraded to Prime by reaching Lieutenant Rank 21.
. Fixed a regression for some Perfect World accounts with completed Identity Verification and restored their Prime Account Status.
. Fixed scoreboard team names truncation in some languages.
. Fixed random map behaviour in offline with bots game modes.
. Adjusted velocity value for when jump 'step' sound plays for more consistent behaviour.
. Fixed a bug where player fall damage sound wasn't playing most of the time.
. Fixed a bug where "the bomb has been defused" and "counter-terrorists win" VO lines could overlap each other.

Despite CS:GO's enduring popularity with casual players and its thriving esports community, Valve keeps making changes to keep things fresh. Just last year for example the game was given a battle-royale mode and went free-to-play (something that didn't sit right with many fans if the Steam reviews were anything to go by) and the FBI even got a makeover too.

You can get a taste of Zoo in a screenshot down below. Are you excited to give these new maps a go?