Do I need a Steam game server token to host Condition Zero?

No. Condition Zero on GoldSrc needs no GSLT. Deploy the server and it boots ready.

Can players join without downloading maps?

Yes. Every official map ships with the server, so friends connect straight away. Custom maps need a FastDL host, which is not set up on this release, so stick to the stock maps for now.

How many players and bots can I have?

Pick 8, 16, or 32 slots on deploy. Bots fill the empty slots. Set bot_quota to how many bots you want, or 0 for a human-only match.

How to host a Counter-Strike: Condition Zero server (2026)

Updated Sep 22, 2026

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is classic 1.6 gameplay with a bot roster good enough to fill a match. This guide sets up a Condition Zero dedicated server the fast way: pick a map and mode, deploy, and share the IP. No install, no GoldSrc command-line, no Steam token. The server runs on the GoldSrc engine (hlds, app 90, mod czero) and is ready in about 5 minutes.

What you get

Bots that fill the server: Condition Zero ships first-class bots. Two or three friends and the AI makes up a full match, so the server is never empty.
Every stock map: All official maps ship with the server. Nobody downloads anything to join.
Two modes: Bomb Defusal on de_ maps, Hostage Rescue on cs_ maps.
Size to fit: 8, 16 (default), or 32 player slots. Pick the tier on the deploy form.
By the hour: The server is hosted by the hour. Stop it when you are done and stop paying.

Deploy the server

Open the deploy page, choose a starting map and mode, pick a size, and start it. You do not need a Steam game server token (GSLT). The server boots with bots already playing.

Pick a map and mode

The mode filters the map pool. Bomb Defusal uses the de_ maps, Hostage Rescue uses the cs_ maps. Defaults to Dust II on Bomb Defusal.

Bomb Defusal: Dust II, Dust, Inferno, Nuke, Aztec, Train, Cobblestone, Prodigy, Vertigo, Chateau.
Hostage Rescue: Assault, Office, Italy, Militia, Havana, 747.

Invite friends

Give friends the server IP. They open the console with the ~ key and connect. Your server name starts with 2hours.gg in the in-game browser (Internet tab, or add by IP).

connect IP:27015

Public or private

Leave the Join password empty and anyone with the IP can join. Set a password on deploy and only people you give it to get in. Friends set the password first, then connect.

password yourpass; connect IP:27015

Tune the bots

You deployed the server, so you are the admin. Log in with your RCON password (shown on the server card), then run commands from the web console here or from the in-game console with rcon.

rcon bot_quota 6
rcon bot_difficulty 2

Change map and run the match

Switch maps and set match rules from the console. de_ maps load Bomb Defusal, cs_ maps load Hostage Rescue.

rcon changelevel de_inferno
rcon mp_timelimit 30
rcon mp_friendlyfire 1
rcon status

Deploy a Counter-Strike: Condition Zero server by the hour