CSGO Should Turn Audio Bug Discovered At FACEIT London Major Into A Feature

A bug in CS:GO that prevents players from hearing other players’ footsteps was recently discovered at the FACEIT London Major. The developers should turn this bug into a feature and allow players to disguise the sound of their footsteps on certain occasions.

A recent bug discovered in Counter Strike could be turned into an asset if used correctly. Several players at the FACEIT London Major discovered an issue with sound in the game during the first stage of the tournament. At certain times, it was impossible to hear other players’ footsteps within the game. The bug was inconsistent, with only some players experiencing it at certain times.

Yep. Full sprinting, jumping, and no audio being played. Happens randomly and on specific players (like 2 players on a team will make no noise to anyone, teammate or enemy)

— Ryu (@SelflessRyu) September 9, 2018

While obviously this bug should be fixed, it also presents an opportunity for the game to add a new feature. One player’s footsteps being muffled presents a clear advantage, making it possible to sneak up behind one’s opponents, or at least make it easier to move around without being detected. This is an ability the developers should use to their advantage.

While CS:GO does not tend to feature powerups, it does have several different modes, and a mode where players have the ability to disguise their footsteps could make for interesting gameplay. If a new mode with power ups was created, disguising footsteps could be one of various power ups that players could earn, and it would last for ten to thirty seconds at a time. This way it is not a permanent advantage, but something that briefly gives a player the edge on his or her opponents. Or it could be a feature of a special item, something that could be earned or picked up during gameplay. It could even be something used against opponents, as it would be quite useful to make one of your opponents unable to hear any other players’ footsteps for a set period.

This could also add another layer of realism to the game, as many veterans experience hearing loss, due to being exposed to loud sounds, including gunfire. However, hearing loss does not necessarily mean deafness, so making this more realistic would require reduced hearing, not necessarily being unable to hear altogether. I’m also not entirely sure CS:GO is ready to tackle such a weighty subject matter (even for a game about terrorism).

Not being able to hear other players’ footsteps may dramatically alter the playing experience for some, like Mathias “MSL” Lauridsen, in-game leader of the CS:GO organization North. He played at the FACEIT London Major and called the tournament “the worst major” he has attended and said that he relies on sound substantially while playing.

However, it may not be such a big deal for others, such as Shazeb Kahn, a player from compLexity Gaming who was also in attendance at the FACEIT London Major.

In our match vs. Vega I couldn’t hear my teammates footsteps nor chopper’s but it was so late into the match I just rolled with it

— Shahzeb Khan (@ShahZaMk) September 9, 2018

Not being able to hear your opponent could be a major hurdle for some players, but for others it could be a fun challenge to work around. After all, players would still be able to see their opponents if they are close enough and not taking cover.

The bottom line is that Hidden Path and Valve would be letting go of a big opportunity if they merely patched up this bug and forgot about it. Giving players the ability to disguise their footsteps would give a unique playing experience and could improve the game if done correctly. Since it is an idea that might the game more enjoyable it is worth hearing.