How to Record GOTV Demos on Your CS2 Server

What Is GOTV?

GOTV (Game Observer TV) is CS2's built-in spectator and demo recording system. It records the full match to a .dem file on the server, which you can download and replay in-game for analysis, coaching, or casting.

Demo files accumulate in the server root — clean them out periodically or they'll eat disk space.

Step 1: Enable GOTV

GOTV must be enabled before you can record. Add this to your server.cfg or autoexec.cfg:

tv_enable 1
tv_delay 0
tv_advertise_watchable 1

Then restart the server.

Slot note: GOTV takes one player slot. On a 10-slot competitive server, only 9 human players can join while GOTV is active. Bump your slot count or account for it in max players.

Step 2: Start Recording

Run this command in the Server Console (panel console or via Fake RCON):

tv_record demoname

Replace demoname with a descriptive filename — no spaces, no extension needed:

tv_record match_2024-04-22_mirage

The server will create match_2024-04-22_mirage.dem in the server root.

CS2 doesn't have native RCON. Run these commands through your AMP or WISP panel's console, or via Fake RCON if you prefer a remote client.

Step 3: Stop Recording

tv_stoprecord

Recording also stops automatically when:

• The map changes
• The server shuts down

Avoid tv_autorecord

Skip tv_autorecord 1. It records every warmup, knife round, and half — your disk fills up fast and you end up with dozens of junk demo files. Record manually with tv_record so you only keep matches you actually want.

Step 4: Download Your Demo

1. In your AMP or WISP panel, open File Manager
2. Search for .dem — demo files land in the server root
3. Download the one you want

Watching the Demo

1. Copy the .dem file to your local CS2 install folder: Steam/steamapps/common/Counter-Strike Global Offensive/
2. Open CS2 and launch the developer console (`)
3. Type:

playdemo demoname

Related

• CS2 RCON — running commands remotely
• How to Install Fake RCON
• CS2 Practice Mode and Scrims