CS:GO update nerfs Zeus x27

At DreamHack Open Stockholm, a fairly new meta game was seen developing where eco'ing players would buy the Zeus x27, the one-hit kill taser which had recently been reduced to $100 in a massive update a few weeks earlier.

Although the Zeus is a one-use weapon with poor registry and a small range of reach, its massively lowered price tag saw pro players warrant its use on eco rounds, giving them a risky strategy to try and bring down players with SMGs/Rifles and Kevlar in a single shot.

The price reduction provoked backlash from many of CS:GO's prominent players, and the newest update is seen as an attempt to situate this unique weapon into a more niche role once again: the price tag has been raised to $200, the kill reward reduced to $0, and movement speed with the Zeus lowered to 220 units per second.

This update also officially ends Operation Bloodhound, which began in May, and makes an interesting change to the way voice communication works in competitive games during warm-up and halftime.

The full changelog for 1.35.0.4 can be found below:

[Operation Bloodhound]

• Operation Bloodhound has come to a close.
• The Falchion Case will be available as a drop for all players.

[Gameplay]

• Zeus:
  • Increased price to $200
  • Reduced kill award to $0
  • Reduced max player speed to 220

[UI]

• New Music Kits will be available for purchase directly in the main menu for a limited time.

[MISC]

• In official competitive matches, voice communications are now team-only in warmup and half-time, allowing players to discuss player roles and strategies.