TL;DR
- Massive FPS drops affected CSGO players following January 2022 updates
- Professional player cadiaN confirmed the issue with tournament organizers
- Steam browser cache clearing provides immediate relief for most users
- Additional in-game and system optimizations can further boost performance
- Source 2 engine migration may permanently resolve these technical limitations
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive experienced a significant performance degradation crisis at the beginning of 2022, with many players reporting sudden and severe frame rate reductions. The gaming community quickly identified that a Valve software update released in early January introduced these problematic performance issues, creating widespread frustration among competitive and casual players alike.
Numerous CSGO enthusiasts documented frame drops reaching up to 100 FPS following the problematic patch deployment. Among those impacted was Casper “cadiaN” Møller, the strategic leader for professional esports organization Heroic. While the precise technical origin of these performance anomalies remained initially unclear, community experts rapidly developed effective countermeasures.
On January 7th, cadiaN publicly disclosed through social media platforms that he was encountering substantial frame rate instability directly correlated with the early 2022 game update. The professional player further verified that BLAST Premier tournament officials had independently confirmed the existence of these performance irregularities within their competitive environment.
Hey @CSGO. Since one of your recent updates, there is on average 100 fps less. Confirmed by the @BLASTPremier admins.
Could you please look into this?
— cadiaN (@caspercadiaN) January 7, 2022
Multiple community members across various CSGO discussion platforms attempted to pinpoint the root cause without definitive success. Some theories suggested grenade-related game mechanics might be responsible, though cadiaN’s experience indicated persistent performance degradation independent of in-game utility usage. Interestingly, some players reported completely unaffected gameplay experiences, suggesting variable impact across different system configurations.
For gamers struggling with abrupt CSGO performance deterioration in 2022, a straightforward resolution exists that has demonstrated consistent effectiveness. The solution emerged from the same social media discussion where the problem was initially highlighted by professional players.
Within that digital conversation thread, former FACEIT platform developer Tim Cheung presented a verified troubleshooting approach. Cheung maintains recognition as the original creator of FACEIT Enhancer, a widely-adopted browser extension specifically engineered to enhance the CSGO competitive matchmaking ecosystem.
Please try this:
1. Steam → Settings
2. Web Browser → Delete cache + Delete cookies
3. Downloads > Clear download cache
4. Steam should restart & log in again
5. Start CS:GO & it should re-initialize
6. Play as usualThis fixed it for me. Let me know if it works for you.
— Tim Cheung (@timche_) January 7, 2022
His professional recommendation involves completely clearing the cache and cookies from Steam’s integrated web browser component. While Cheung didn’t provide exhaustive technical documentation explaining why this resolves the 2022 FPS complications, the method’s efficacy is well-documented within the player community. The connection between Steam’s web browsing data and in-game rendering performance appears counterintuitive, potentially relating to CSGO’s aging technical infrastructure that dates back over ten years. The anticipated transition to Source 2 engine technology may eventually address these underlying architectural constraints permanently.
To implement this performance restoration procedure, launch the Steam desktop application and select the Steam menu positioned in the interface’s upper-left corner. Navigate to the Web Browser category and systematically remove both cached data and stored cookies. Following this maintenance operation, completely restart Steam by returning to the top-left menu and choosing the Exit command. Upon relaunching CSGO, the frame rate instability should be resolved, restoring smooth gameplay performance.
Beyond the fundamental Steam browser cache solution, competitive players can implement several additional optimization techniques to maximize CSGO performance. Adjusting video settings represents a crucial first step – reducing shadow quality, disabling anti-aliasing, and lowering texture details can yield substantial FPS improvements without significantly compromising visual clarity for gameplay.
System-level enhancements provide another performance dimension to explore. Ensuring your graphics drivers are updated to the latest stable version frequently resolves compatibility issues. Additionally, configuring Windows power settings to maximum performance mode and closing background applications can free up valuable system resources.

For players seeking comprehensive gaming guidance, our Battlefield 6 Complete Guide offers extensive optimization strategies that translate well across competitive FPS titles. Understanding how different character classes and their performance impact in similar games can inform your CSGO configuration decisions.
The community eagerly anticipates Valve’s eventual migration to Source 2 engine technology, which should address many of the current technical limitations. Meanwhile, mastering weapon mechanics and their performance characteristics in contemporary shooters can enhance your overall gaming proficiency across titles.
Common optimization mistakes include overly aggressive graphics reduction that harms visibility, incorrect resolution scaling that creates input lag, and neglecting to monitor system temperatures during extended gameplay sessions. Advanced players should regularly review their launch options and consider custom configuration files for optimal performance tuning.
Action Checklist
- Clear Steam browser cache and cookies through Settings menu
- Completely restart Steam client and relaunch CSGO
- Verify graphics drivers are updated to latest stable version
- Optimize in-game video settings for performance prioritization
- Monitor system performance during gameplay to identify remaining bottlenecks
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » cadiaN calls out CSGO FPS issue, FACEIT admin shares a fix Comprehensive guide to fixing CSGO FPS drops in 2022 with proven solutions and performance optimization tips
