The Michael Jackson Lean in CS2: A Counter-Strike 2 Bug

Dubbed the "MJ Peek" in honor of the legendary Michael Jackson, this quirky new phenomenon in movement tech started as a peculiar issue limited to certain types of keyboards. However, it has since taken the gaming community by storm. Until Valve stepped in with a fix, it was actually a bit overpowered. It only took Valve a couple of days to deploy a fix though.

What was the Michael Jackson Lean in CS2?

A video clip surfaced of a Counter-Terrorist performing what appeared to be Michael Jackson's iconic lean. At first, it looked like a hoax. We've seen bizarre contortions of player models in games before. Witnessing this happen in a competitive Counter-Strike 2 match was beyond anyone's expectations. But it was real. But what caused this?

While some players encountered this bug by simply strafing with the AWP and quick-scoping, Reddit user Dark Stunter found a consistent way to achieve it with analog keyboards. These keyboards, like the Wooting or Huntsman, use infrared lasers to register a keypress rather than traditional mechanical switches. If you lightly press a key instead of fully actuating it, it causes the upper half of the character's body to move without the feet, creating the illusion of a lean. Some players have reported achieving this with controllers as well, thanks to the analog stick.

In a 2018 video, 3kliksphilip highlighted a similar method that could be used to make your player move at different unintended speeds. These issues seem to stem from the fact that both analog sticks and analog keyboards have hundreds of input states, as opposed to the binary "on or off" of traditional keyboards. Valve apparently didn't anticipate these quirks, leading to the current issues.

The Michael Jackson Lean will forever be a meme

Since this bug came to light, the "MJ Peak" has become a Counter-Strike phenomenon, spawning countless Smooth Criminal memes. It even inspired a new rendition of the CS2 logo, which now serves as the banner for the official Counter-Strike 2 Twitter account. Why? Because it's funny, and even Valve can't resist a good laugh at themselves.

There have been concerns online about what other ridiculous surprises might be lurking in the game. The truth is, there's probably more to come. But on the bright side, Valve is addressing these issues fairly swiftly. Counter-Strike 2 isn't a finished product, and whether you think it was released too quickly or not, it's unlikely Valve will hit the undo button. So, all we can do is embrace the quirks, find some humor in them, and continue enjoying the game. Cheaters and performance issues are frustrating, but sometimes all you can do is laugh it off. This bug has been a refreshing reminder that the gaming community can come together and have a good time, even when the game itself has its quirks. Valve knows they have a game that will endure for decades, and they're willing to have a laugh along the way. After all, it's all part of the CS2 experience.