Setting Up Bots on a CS2 Server
Adding bots to your Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) server is a great way to keep gameplay active during downtime or while waiting for players. Since CS2 is still rolling out features from CS:GO, some familiar tools may still be in transition — but bot support is already available via server configuration.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to configure bots on your CS2 dedicated server hosted with Nodecraft.
Note: Always stop your server before making changes to configuration files. This ensures settings save properly and prevents file corruption.
Add Bots on a CS2 Server
Open your Counter-Strike 2 Server in the Nodecraft Dashboard
Navigate to the Server Files
Locate the
server.cfgfile
Browse to the following directory: /game/csgo/cfg/server.cfg
If server.cfg does not exist, create a new text file with that name.
4. Select the server.cfg file then Edit
5. Add your desired bot settings.
Use the table below to configure the behavior and number of bots on your server:
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bot_difficulty [0–3] | Sets bot skill level. 0 = Easy, 1 = Normal, 2 = Hard, 3 = Expert. | bot_difficulty 2 |
| bot_chatter "[value]" | Controls bot voice lines. Options: "off", "radio", "minimal", "normal". | bot_chatter "normal" |
| bot_join_after_player [0 or 1] | 1 = Bots wait for players before spawning. 0 = Bots can spawn on empty servers. | bot_join_after_player 1 |
| bot_quota [number] | Sets the total number of bots (0–10). | bot_quota 5 |
| bot_quota_mode "[mode]" | "normal" – Fixed number of bots equal to bot_quota. "fill" – Fills server with bots until total players = bot_quota. "match" – Adds bot_quota bots per human player. | bot_quota_mode "fill" |
6. Save and Restart Your Server
Once you've added your desired bot settings, save the server.cfg file and restart the server from the Nodecraft dashboard.
Additional Tips
You can still add or remove bots live using in-game console commands, but settings in
server.cfgensure consistency between restarts.Keep an eye on future CS2 updates, as more bot-related features from CS:GO may be reintroduced.
Conclusion
Adding bots to your CS2 server is a quick and effective way to keep gameplay engaging, especially during low-traffic hours or testing phases. With just a few edits to your server.cfg file, you can control how bots behave and ensure they persist after server restarts. As CS2 continues to evolve, stay tuned for additional bot features to be added in future updates.
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