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NextClient is a modification for Counter-Strike 1.6 aimed at introducing new functionality for both players and developers of server modifications on amxmodx. NextClient has integrated some features from csldr.

Please note that the official version of NextClient does not include an emulator. Next21 team is not developing a Steam emulator. You still need to have Steam running and a purchased copy of Cs 1.6 to play on the NextClient version from GitHub.

Some antivirus engines flag NextClient binaries. These are heuristic false positives caused by runtime detouring of engine functions. Official builds are produced from the source code of this repository by GitHub Actions and carry a signed build provenance attestation. Details and false positive reporting: docs/reporting-av-false-positives.md.

• Protector - protects the client from malicious commands from the server
• Ability to change the master server (the default ms is tsarvar.com)
• Advanced video settings - FOV fix on 16:9 resolutions, ability to adjust FOV and separately adjust FOV for first person model
• Advanced killfeed - support for advanced killfeed regamedll, displaying kill icons: through the wall, through smoke, without aiming, jumping, dominating, etc.
• Advanced crosshair settings - added new crosshair types: dot, T-shaped, circle
• 2 GUI schemes with the ability to change them through the settings, and the ability to add your own schemes without deleting the old ones
• HTML interface support in GameUI based on CEF (Chromium Embedded Framework) with a JS API for interacting with the client
• Display more than 255hp when using server module
• Display number and size of remaining files, total file size and upload speed when connected to the server
• Color chat in console
• Various improvements from csldr for viewmodel:
  • Adjustable origin
  • Alternative bob from CS:GO 1.0.0.40
  • Sway/lag
  • Viewmodel shifting can be disabled
  • Client-side weapon inspecting
  • Bone controlled camera movement

• Cvars sandbox, the ability to change cvars for a client (from a limited list) while a client is on the server
• Killfeed customization
• Sprite API, control of sprites on the screen
• Extended FOV message
• Support for viewmodel effects
• Weapon sound replacement
• Mouse inversion
• Client verification and hardware ID (HWID) request
• Separate precache for regular cs 1.6 client and NextClient
• Precache of hud.txt and other standard resources

*Can the server change the value of a cvar using the cvars sandbox feature.

1. NextClient only works with engine version 8684, make sure you are on the beta branch "steam_legacy - Pre-25th Anniversary Build" in Steam (⚠️ Note: you need the official game files from Steam! You cannot install NextClient on pirate clients!)
2. Copy the entire Counter-Strike 1.6 (Half-Life) folder to a separate folder outside of the Steam folder
3. Copy all NextClient files to the folder where you copied all the CS 1.6 files
4. Run the game via cstrike.exe

The configuration file is located at the path platform\config\MasterServer.vdf

"MasterServer"
{
   "Selected"     "1"       // Item number from the Servers section. Numbering starts from 0.
   "CacheServers" "false"   // In case the master server is unavailable, the servers will be taken from the cache.
                            // The cache contains servers from the last request that was fully completed.
   "Servers"
   {
      "Steam"
      {
         "address" "hl1master.steampowered.com:27011" // Master server address.
         "site"    ""       // Not used.
         "region"  "0x03"   // Region code, see https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Master_Server_Query_Protocol#Region_codes.
      }
      "Tsarvar"
      {
         "address" "ms.tsarvar.com:27010"
         "site"    "https://tsarvar.com/"
         "region"  "0xFF"
      }
   }
}

Requirements:

• The latest version of MSVC 2022 or later
• CMake 3.21 or higher
• Ninja (optional)

Run x86 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/CS-NextClient/NextClient.git
cd NextClient

Using Visual Studio 2022 generator:

cmake --preset vs2022
cmake --build --preset vs2022-release --target BUILD_ALL

Using Visual Studio 2026 generator:

cmake --preset vs2026
cmake --build --preset vs2026-release --target BUILD_ALL

Or using Ninja:

cmake --preset ninja
cmake --build --preset ninja-release --target BUILD_ALL

BUILD_ALL also copies all built files and assets to NEXTCLIENT_INSTALL_DIR if the variable is set. You can pass it directly when configuring:

cmake --preset vs2022 -DNEXTCLIENT_INSTALL_DIR="C:/Games/CS 1.6 - NextClient"

Or create a CMakeUserPresets.json in the project root (gitignored) to avoid passing it every time:

{
  "version": 3,
  "configurePresets": [
    {
      "name": "vs2022-local",
      "inherits": "vs2022",
      "cacheVariables": {
        "NEXTCLIENT_INSTALL_DIR": "C:/Games/CS 1.6 - NextClient"
      }
    }
  ],
  "buildPresets": [
    {
      "name": "vs2022-local-release",
      "configurePreset": "vs2022-local",
      "configuration": "Release"
    },
    {
      "name": "vs2022-local-debug",
      "configurePreset": "vs2022-local",
      "configuration": "Debug"
    }
  ]
}

Then:

cmake --preset vs2022-local
cmake --build --preset vs2022-local-release --target BUILD_ALL

• The default toolchain must be Visual Studio x86
• Enable the required presets in CMake settings (Settings -> Build -> CMake), e.g. vs2022 - vs2022-debug and vs2022 - vs2022-release
• Build the BUILD_ALL target

• Open the project folder
• Select build preset, e.g. vs2022-debug or vs2022-release
• In the main menu, select Build -> Build All

• Install the ms-vscode.cmake-tools extension
• Select the vs2022, vs2026, or ninja configure preset and the corresponding build configuration
• Build the BUILD_ALL target
• For the ninja preset, VS Code must be launched from "x86 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS"

• Nordic Warrior - for the huge amount of feedback and bug reports
• fl0werD - for development of Sprite API
• Mikko Kokko - for the project csldr, which features we have integrated into NextClient
• Felipe - for the project MetaAudio
• MoeMod - for the project Thanatos-Launcher, it helped a lot when implementing GameUI and VGUI2
• tmp64 - for the project hl1_source_sdk
• TsarVar - for the idea of a JS API for gameui
• s1lent - for advice, ready-made fixes, and development of the avatarid-spec specification
• lozatto - for contributing the unique machine identifier (HWID) feature
• SanyaSho - for the project BarsTech_goldsrc_compatible_public, which helped with VGUI2 font rendering
• Valve - for Counter-Strike 1.6 and loyal attitude to the modder community

Thanks to everyone who supports the project with bug reports, suggestions and words of encouragement.