A team of dedicated modders just did what 343 Industries hasn’t managed in years: they made people genuinely excited about Halo multiplayer again. Project Misriah, released on November 17, 2025, is a total conversion mod for Counter-Strike 2 that recreates the Halo 3 multiplayer experience inside Valve’s Source 2 engine. We’re talking ported weapons with accurate damage values, Spartan character models, regenerating shields, floaty sci-fi movement, Jeff Steitzer yelling “Double Kill” in your ear, and faithful recreations of classic maps like High Ground and Ghost Town. The crazy part? It feels shockingly natural, proving that CS2’s foundation is more versatile than anyone expected.
What Project Misriah Actually Includes
This isn’t a simple reskin or map pack. Project Misriah is a comprehensive overhaul that transforms Counter-Strike 2 into a Halo experience at the systems level. The mod pulls assets directly from Halo 3 and other titles in the series, integrating them into CS2’s framework using the game’s new scripting tools that finally give modders freedom to build full custom experiences.
The current release includes three fully playable maps: Ghost Town, High Ground (both from Halo 3), and Homefront (styled after Halo 3: ODST environments). These aren’t approximations or spiritual successors, they’re faithful recreations that Halo veterans will immediately recognize. The team teased additional maps including The Pit, Valhalla, Narrows, Guardian, and Last Resort coming within the next few weeks, which would give the mod a legitimate Halo 3 map rotation.
Weapons replace CS2’s arsenal with Halo counterparts featuring custom damage values, ballistics that maintain accuracy while moving (wild for CS players used to spray patterns), and original sound effects ripped from the games. The Battle Rifle, DMR, Sniper Rifle, and other iconic Halo firearms are implemented with stats that approximate their source material’s time-to-kill and feel. The roadmap mentions adding the Rocket Launcher, Plasma Rifles, and Needler in future updates.
Character models feature Spartan armor variants from Halo 3, complete with the rechargeable energy shields that defined Bungie-era combat. Movement has been adjusted to mimic Halo’s floaty, sci-fi feel with reduced gravity and modified jump mechanics. The legendary Jeff Steitzer provides announcer lines for multikills, sprees, and objective plays, instantly transporting players back to 2007. Even powerups like Overshield and Active Camouflage are planned for future releases.
The Technical Limitations They’re Fighting
While Project Misriah is impressively polished for an initial release, the team is transparent about the Source 2 engine limitations they’re currently battling. Valve blocks custom weapon animations, meaning all the Halo guns still use default CS2 animation rigs. Seeing a Battle Rifle held and reloaded like an M4A4 breaks immersion for purists, though most players report it doesn’t significantly impact gameplay once you’re in the thick of combat.
Recoil patterns become locked once mods upload to Steam Workshop, preventing the team from fine-tuning weapon balance after release. This forces them to get ballistics perfect before publishing updates rather than iterating based on player feedback like traditional game developers can. Animation tools remain limited, crosshair customization doesn’t exist for modded weapons, and there’s no way to rename items in the buy menu, leading to occasional confusion where players aren’t sure which CS2 gun corresponds to which Halo weapon.
Some Counter-Strike 2 assets still appear in loadouts, creating goofy mismatches where you might spawn with a P90 alongside your Battle Rifle. The buy menu uses CS2’s economy system, which actually works surprisingly well for round-based CTF with pistol rounds and expensive power weapons functioning like AWP purchases. But it’s clearly a workaround rather than a native solution designed for Halo-style gameplay.
Lead developer Froddoyo is openly asking for help from anyone with Source 2 scripting experience or knowledge of workarounds for these engine limitations. The team wants to push Project Misriah as close to authentic Halo 3 as technically possible, and they’re willing to collaborate with anyone who can help overcome these barriers. When the project reaches full release, they plan to share all source files so others can learn from or build on their work.
Why Counter-Strike 2 Makes a Perfect Halo Platform
The most surprising aspect of Project Misriah is how naturally Halo translates to the Source 2 engine. PC Gamer’s hands-on impressions noted that as one of the last FPS franchises remaining indifferent to modern design trends like aim-down-sights, wall climbing, and class customization, CS2 provides an ideal platform to emulate classic arena shooter gameplay. Both Halo 3 and Counter-Strike emphasize map control, weapon spawns, and gunplay fundamentals over gimmicky movement abilities or equipment spam.
The round-based structure with an economy system actually enhances the Halo experience in unexpected ways. Pistol rounds force players to fight over map control and power weapons before anyone can afford BRs or Snipers, creating natural escalation curves similar to Halo’s weapon spawn timers. Rich teams can buy power weapons early but risk losing everything if they die, adding risk-reward tension that pure Halo doesn’t typically feature.
Source 2’s netcode provides smooth movement and responsive shooting that matches or exceeds 343 Industries’ recent offerings. Players report hit registration feels crisp and fair, which is crucial for competitive arena shooters where milliseconds determine outcomes. The fact that a mod running inside another game’s engine can deliver better moment-to-moment gameplay than the actual Halo franchise’s latest entries speaks volumes about both Source 2’s capabilities and 343’s struggles.
Community Response Has Been Overwhelmingly Positive
The Steam Workshop page sits at five stars with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Social media reactions went semi-viral with posts garnering over 14,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter), which is impressive for a fan project inside a different game. Some Bungie-era purists are calling it the most faithful Halo experience since the studio left the franchise, though that assessment might be more about frustration with 343 Industries than objective analysis.
PC Gamer’s hands-on article expressed frustration that they have to play a Halo mod inside Counter-Strike 2 to get a Source 2 FPS with smooth movement, straightforward shooting mechanics, and casual arena modes. This sentiment reflects broader dissatisfaction with the current state of multiplayer shooters where even Halo Infinite struggles to retain players despite being free-to-play and receiving regular updates.
How to Actually Play Project Misriah
Project Misriah is available for free through the Steam Workshop for anyone who owns Counter-Strike 2, which is itself free-to-play. Simply search for “Project Misriah” in the CS2 Workshop, subscribe to the collection, and the maps and assets will download automatically. The team hosts a dedicated community server at IP address 135.148.136.190:27015 where you can jump in and play with others experiencing the mod.
You can also host private servers or lobbies using the Workshop maps if you want to play with friends specifically. The modding tools in CS2 make this relatively straightforward compared to older Source engine games where custom content required more technical setup. This accessibility combined with CS2’s massive playerbase gives Project Misriah potential reach far beyond typical Halo community projects.
The development team consists of Froddoyo, TheSlammerss, H8yse, Nitro, SirVeyza, ShmeeGrim, and Lydran on Steam with various levels of contributions across mapping, scripting, asset porting, and playtesting. They’re active on social media and easy to reach if you want to help with development or provide feedback. The roadmap on the Workshop page shows ambitious plans for expanding content over the coming months.
What This Means for Counter-Strike 2 Modding
Project Misriah represents one of the first major examples of what’s possible now that Valve has improved Counter-Strike 2’s modding tools. The original Source engine spawned entire new genres through community creativity, games like Team Fortress, Counter-Strike itself, Garry’s Mod, and countless others started as mods before becoming standalone phenomena. CS2’s early modding scene felt restrictive compared to that legacy, but recent tool updates suggest Valve is preparing a new era of mod-driven innovation.
The success of Project Misriah will likely inspire other ambitious total conversion projects. Why not Destiny in CS2? Titanfall multiplayer? Quake Champions? Unreal Tournament? If a small team can recreate Halo 3 this faithfully in a few months, what could dedicated communities accomplish with more time and resources? The prospect of CS2 becoming a platform for recreating classic multiplayer experiences that modern publishers have abandoned is genuinely exciting.
Valve’s quiet embrace of modding again after years of relative restriction could reshape the multiplayer FPS landscape. While live-service games from major publishers chase battle pass sales and seasonal content, the Counter-Strike 2 community might preserve and evolve classic arena shooter experiences that would otherwise fade into obscurity. Project Misriah proves the concept works and the demand exists.
FAQs
What is Project Misriah?
Project Misriah is a total conversion mod for Counter-Strike 2 that recreates the Halo 3 multiplayer experience using ported maps, weapons, character models, and sound effects from the Halo series. It uses CS2’s new scripting tools to implement Halo-style movement, shields, and gameplay mechanics inside the Source 2 engine.
How do you play Project Misriah?
Download it free through the Steam Workshop by searching “Project Misriah” in Counter-Strike 2 and subscribing to the collection. The team hosts a community server at IP 135.148.136.190:27015, or you can host private games using the Workshop maps with friends.
What maps are available in Project Misriah?
Currently Ghost Town, High Ground, and Homefront are playable. The team teased The Pit, Valhalla, Narrows, Guardian, and Last Resort coming within the next few weeks. More maps are planned as the project expands toward a full Halo 3 map rotation.
What weapons does Project Misriah include?
The Battle Rifle, DMR, Sniper Rifle, and other iconic Halo firearms are implemented with custom damage values and original sound effects. The roadmap includes adding the Rocket Launcher, Plasma Rifles, and Needler in future updates along with powerups like Overshield and Active Camouflage.
Who created Project Misriah?
The development team consists of Froddoyo, TheSlammerss, H8yse, Nitro, SirVeyza, ShmeeGrim, and Lydran with various contributions across mapping, scripting, asset porting, and playtesting. They’re actively seeking help from anyone with Source 2 experience to overcome engine limitations.
Does Project Misriah have custom animations?
No, Valve currently blocks custom weapon animations in CS2 Workshop content. All Halo weapons use default Counter-Strike 2 animation rigs, meaning they’re held and reloaded like CS guns. This breaks immersion but doesn’t significantly impact gameplay once you’re engaged in combat.
Is Project Misriah better than Halo Infinite?
That’s subjective, but many community members praise it as more faithful to the Bungie-era Halo experience than 343 Industries’ recent entries. Some call it the best Halo multiplayer available right now, though that reflects frustration with Halo Infinite’s issues as much as objective assessment of Project Misriah’s quality.
Will Microsoft or 343 Industries shut this down?
It’s possible but unlikely. The mod uses ported assets which technically violates copyright, but fan projects of this nature usually only face takedowns if they threaten official releases or generate revenue. Since it’s free and Halo Infinite exists, Microsoft would face bad PR for attacking passionate fans keeping their franchise alive.
Can you use Counter-Strike skins in Project Misriah?
No, the weapons are completely replaced with Halo models and systems. CS2 skins don’t carry over since you’re not using Counter-Strike guns anymore. The mod is designed to be a pure Halo experience rather than a hybrid of both games’ aesthetics.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Being Cool
Project Misriah isn’t just a neat novelty for Halo fans missing the Bungie era. It represents proof that classic arena shooter gameplay still resonates with players when executed well, that modding communities can preserve gaming history better than corporations protecting IP, and that Counter-Strike 2 might become the platform for reviving multiplayer experiences that publishers have abandoned. The fact that a small team recreated Halo 3 more faithfully in a few months than 343 Industries has managed with unlimited resources over a decade should embarrass Microsoft. But more importantly, it should inspire other modders to resurrect the multiplayer games they love inside Source 2. The original Source engine birthed entire genres through community creativity. If CS2 follows that legacy, we might be witnessing the beginning of a renaissance for arena shooters and classic multiplayer design that modern live-service games have forgotten. Sometimes the best way forward is letting passionate fans preserve what made gaming great in the first place.