Introduction

A while ago, the centered viewmodel became popular and was a hot topic among players. Though I’m a bit late to the trend, I finally decided to try it myself—and found that it really improved my aim and gameplay. I wanted to share my experience and the benefits of this setup with everyone, so in this guide we’ll reference and quote relevant YouTube videos to illustrate how to configure a centered viewmodel in CS2.

Well, it’s only Deathmatch, but I’ve been hitting headshot rates over 90% more often. This is the first time I’ve ever experienced anything like this…!

Why Use a Centered Viewmodel?

Traditional viewmodels in CS2 place your weapon slightly to the right or left of center. However, a centered viewmodel brings the weapon directly under your crosshair. Pros such as NiKo and others have adopted a centered viewmodel for several reasons:

• Improved Crosshair Focus:
  With the weapon’s barrel directly under the crosshair, you can visually align shots more quickly without mental adjustment.
• Reduced Distraction:
  A centered weapon model minimizes off-center weapon animation, letting you concentrate on opponents and map movements.
• Consistent Tracking:
  The weapon’s position will stay fixed relative to your crosshair, making it easier to track targets at any distance.
• Pro Practice Example:
  Watch the embed below to see how NiKo maintains crosshair discipline with a centered viewmodel during clutch situations.

Step 1: Determine Your Preferred Viewmodel Commands

CS2 uses console commands to adjust viewmodel offsets. The key commands are:

• viewmodel_fov: Field of view for your weapon model (smaller values bring it closer).
• viewmodel_offset_x: Horizontal offset (positive moves weapon right; negative moves left).
• viewmodel_offset_y: Forward/backward offset (positive moves weapon closer; negative moves it farther).
• viewmodel_offset_z: Vertical offset (positive raises the weapon; negative lowers it).

To center your viewmodel, set viewmodel_offset_x to 0 (or a small value) and adjust viewmodel_offset_y so the weapon doesn’t clip into walls. Below are three commonly used settings by professional players. Click “Copy” next to each block to copy the entire command set.

viewmodel_fov 65; viewmodel_offset_x -0.5; viewmodel_offset_y 1; viewmodel_offset_z -2; viewmodel_presetpos 1;
  

viewmodel_fov 60; viewmodel_offset_x -1.5; viewmodel_offset_y 1; viewmodel_offset_z -1; viewmodel_presetpos 1;
  

viewmodel_fov 60; viewmodel_offset_x 0; viewmodel_offset_y 1; viewmodel_offset_z -2; viewmodel_presetpos 0;
  

viewmodel_fov 68; viewmodel_offset_x 2.5; viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5; viewmodel_presetpos 2;
  

For more professional viewmodel setups, you can find additional settings at ProSettings CS2 .

Step 2: Create or Edit Your Autoexec or Viewmodel Config

To make these changes permanent, add them to your autoexec.cfg or a dedicated viewmodel.cfg file. For example:

File Location

Your CS2 config files are typically stored here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg

Create or open autoexec.cfg and append the following lines:

// ===== Autoexec: Centered Viewmodel Settings =====
viewmodel_fov 65
viewmodel_offset_x -0.5
viewmodel_offset_y 1
viewmodel_offset_z -2
viewmodel_presetpos 1
bind "F8" "viewmodel_fov 68; viewmodel_offset_x 2.5; viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5; viewmodel_presetpos 2"
// Optionally bind a key to toggle between centered and default
bind "F9" "toggle viewmodel_offset_x 0 2; toggle viewmodel_offset_z -1 1"
            

Explanation:

• Lines 1–4 set up your centered viewmodel immediately upon launch.
• The F8 bind reapplies the centered viewmodel if you experiment or change it in-game.
• The F9 bind toggles viewmodel_offset_x 0→2 and viewmodel_offset_z -1→1, allowing quick switching to a slightly offset viewmodel if desired.

Step 3: Load Your Config and Verify

Open CS2, ensure your console (~) is enabled, and type:

exec autoexec

If you created a separate viewmodel.cfg, type:

exec viewmodel

Your weapon should now appear centered under your crosshair. You can move around in a practice lobby or shooting range to verify that your model stays central during movement and strafing.

Benefits of a Centered Viewmodel

Summarizing the key advantages:

• Precision: Crosshair alignment becomes more intuitive without compensating for off-center weapon sway.
• Consistency: A fixed central weapon model means fewer visual surprises when peeking/holding angles.
• Improved Tracking: Targets stay under your crosshair more steadily as you track movement.
• Reduced Distraction: Peripheral vision is clearer with less weapon swing in view.

Conclusion

Switching to a centered viewmodel in CS2 can give you a subtle but meaningful edge in aiming and target focus, much like many professionals have demonstrated in tournaments. By following the steps above—adding the console commands to your autoexec.cfg or a dedicated viewmodel.cfg—you’ll be able to replicate that consistency. Experiment with slight variations in viewmodel_offset_y and viewmodel_fov to find the exact feel that suits you best. Give it a try in practice servers and watch how your precision improves!