Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
CSGO case prices are skyrocketing, here’s why
William Davis
CSGO case prices have exploded recently, and the mass influx of unboxing content may be to blame. While the core of Counter-Strike will always be tactical shooting action, it’s hard to ignore the massive impact skins have had on the game. Players of all skill levels can engage in the cosmetic side of the game on an even playing field, being limited only by the size of their wallets. However, …
Counter-Strike
Second CS2 major rumored for Shanghai, China
William Davis
The first major of CS2 has already been confirmed for March, but the second in Shanghai may have already been leaked. Counter-Strike 2 is imminent, and players know it. Between the constant updates to the beta test and the slated summer release season, it’s clear that Valve is in the final stretch of development. The company has already confirmed plans for the new game’s first major, though that event’s location …
Counter-Strike
The best CSGO knife tier list for case opening in 2023
William Davis
If you’re looking to open a CSGO knife or two, our tier list will let you know which ones are the best to pull for. Opening a knife is one of the most exciting things possible in CSGO, but not all of them are made equal. CSGO has 19 different knife models with more on the way, and they range in value from just over $100 to thousands even for …
Counter-Strike
Take control of Overpass B site with this new setup in CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Lineups in Counter-Strike 2 are much easier to learn. This new Overpass B-site setup is proof. Overpass is the latest map in CS2 beta testing, and while it has some flaws, it’s overall a pretty balanced location. The layout remains the same, but Source 2 luster has made Overpass a sight to behold. However, it remains a challenging map to play for both sides, specifically for the T side. Ts …
Counter-Strike
Did Valve just drop an official CS2 release date teaser?
Fariha Bhatti
Valve has likely dropped the first official teaser about the Counter-Strike 2 release date, and it makes all the sense. Valve continues to deliver new maps and content in CS2 beta but remains tightlipped about the official CS2 release date. Those who couldn’t get early access in the second wave are still patiently waiting to trot on Overpass’ uber-realistic waters and experience Mirage’s new royal palace. Now, players are hunting …
Counter-Strike
Valve adds iconic Wingman game mode to CS2 beta
Fariha Bhatti
The latest Counter-Strike 2 release notes bear glad tidings for casual players as iconic 2v2 Wingman mode returns. Counter-Strike is highly competitive, but sometimes you don’t feel like playing in a crowded server. For those who like serious practice, some quiet, and competitive flair all in one, Valve released Wingman in 2017. But, when CS2 was announced, players weren’t sure if the iconic game mode would make the cut. It …
Counter-Strike
Overpass is now in CS2 beta and it’s unrecognizable
Fariha Bhatti
Overpass has replaced Nuke in Counter-Strike 2, and players couldn’t be happier about it. The two-story iconic locale looks cleaner and sharper in Source 2 visuals. CS2 is in its final stages of testing if leaks of its release date are to be believed. Instead of allotting a whole month to each map, Valve is quickly swapping out locations to test all of them before the official launch at the …
Counter-Strike
Will CS2 get rid of one-way smokes? Here’s what we know
William Davis
CS2 has completely changed everything about smokes, but the classic one-way has somehow managed to survive. One-way smokes are some of the nastiest pieces of tech in Global Offensive. Whether it’s abusing high-up landing spots or messing with corners, the classic mechanic is either extremely frustrating or satisfying. CS2’s major smoke changes have pros divided but ranked grinders who abused the mechanics may be even more upset. So now that …
Disabled CSGO player is popping heads using a controller
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
While some veterans struggle to achieve the perfect spray in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this “crosshanded” player is annihilating enemies with a disability. CSGO’s steep learning curve is not for quitters. You must have ample patience, skill, and determination to hit a decent rank in Valve’s FPS. However, most players lack the discipline to stay consistent through the setbacks. But, this one player named “Crosshanded” is putting old-timers to shame with …
Cloud9 adds CSGO stars Perfecto and electroNic to roster
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Cloud9 has just signed superstar Counter-Strike: Global Offensive duo Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy and Denis “electroNic” Sharipov. Ahead of Counter-Strike 2, Cloud9 has decided to shake up its entire Counter-Strike roster. Iconic players Perfecto and electroNic have joined the roster, and IGL Vladislav “nafany” Gorshkov and Timur “buster” Tulepov are out. This comes after Cloud9 had a few underwhelming performances lately. https://twitter.com/C9CSGO/status/1679868389626396673?s=20 The decision was first announced during a Stratus round-table …
Fan shares the right way to smoke crossing in CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Smokes in Counter-Strike 2 are different and highly valuable, specifically on the map Mirage. Smokes were hands down the most shocking upgrade in CS2, setting the new version apart from CSGO. The reactive grenades have a 3D shape, meaning they always stay the same, unlike CSGO, where shape-shifting smokes allowed for unique tricks like one-ways. When players discovered that one-ways were being removed, their disappointment was palpable. But playtesters are …
Will CS2 come to PS5 or Xbox Series? What you should know
William Davis
Counter-Strike
CS2 is close, but will PS5 and Xbox Series get to join in on the fun? Counter-Strike fans may not realize that the series has a legacy on consoles. The original Counter-Strike got an original Xbox port back in 2003, and Global Offensive was playable on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. With CS2 now on the horizon, some console players are wondering if they will get to join in …
We may know the Counter-Strike 2 release date now
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
We are getting closer to knowing the release date for Counter-Strike 2. A lack of updates since the beta has left the Counter-Strike community a bit frustrated. When is CS2 actually coming out? Valve promised a lot of exciting updates, and now players are wondering when they will be able to get their hands on the upgraded version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Now, investigative journalist Richard Lewis has hinted at …
RobbaN steps down as FaZe Clan CSGO coach, hints at next move
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Veteran Counter-Strike coach Robert “RobbaN” Dahlstrom has announced that he’s stepping down as FaZe Clan’s coach to pursue his “next challenge.” Thirty-eight-year-old RobbaN started playing Counter-Strike back in the 1.6 days. Since 2016 the Swedish pro has been with FaZe Clan as a coach and manager throughout the years. He was there when FaZe won ESL One New York 2017 and then PGL Major Antwerp in 2022. Now, RobbaN is …
The noob blue gem karambit has sold for $169,000
William Davis
Counter-Strike
The CSGO skin community went nuts after a total noob unboxed a blue gem karambit, and it’s finally sold for an insane price. Whenever a CSGO player opens a case, there’s always the slight hope of unboxing something insane like an M9 black pearl or pristine Vice gloves. However, the odds of actually getting anything good are slim, and the pinnacles of CSGO skins are rare for a reason. It …
Teasers point to Overpass as the next map in CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Valve may be pulling the plug on Nuke soon as players spot teasers for Overpass on Counter-Strike 2 social media. CS2 is still in the testing stages, and like a good developer, Valve is in no hurry. The developer is meticulously testing out each map and ironing out the kinks reported by the players during the beta. After spending a week in CS2, it seems Nuke’s time is over as …
How to download CS2 and get ready for the official release
William Davis
Counter-Strike
Excited for the official switch from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to Counter-Strike 2? Here’s how to tell if you’re one of the lucky few able to download CS2, and how to get ready if you aren’t. Valve has doubled-down on Counter-Strike 2, adding more maps and exciting features to keep beta testers entertained. However, the test’s exclusivity is still the major factor keeping players from experiencing the future tactical shooter. Only …
New wall bang exploit on Nuke is only viable if you’re smart
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will soon be replaced by a shiny new CS2, but players continue to find mind-boggling tricks, and this fresh wall bang on Nuke is too good to be true. Nuke is the latest map to enter CS2 beta, and those who couldn’t get access have found a new way to enjoy the same old map in CSGO. Players have discovered a bug on Nuke that allows them …
Former Valorant player pulls rarest CSGO knife in record time
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
A Valorant player who switched to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has unboxed one of the rarest knives in the game’s history, dropping jaws across the FPS community worldwide. Skins in CSGO can cost an arm and a leg, but not if you’re lucky enough. Cheap boxes can turn any other person into a millionaire within a matter of seconds. Something similar has happened in CSGO, leaving seasoned players in utter shock. …
The results of ohnePixel’s $130,000 case opening spree
William Davis
Counter-Strike
ohnePixel used $130,000 of cases for a highly-publicized opening stream, and the results are heartbreaking. Rare Counter-Strike: Global Offensive capsules have become one of the hottest commodities in any digital economy, with the rarest of them all costing upwards of $20,000. ohnePixel lucked into a couple of those exact ones, along with over $80,000 worth of weapon skin crates thanks to a mysterious donor, and he decided to open them …
Counter-Strike has long been among the biggest titles in esports and competitive gaming, even going back to esports’ deepest roots from decades past. What’s more, the game continues going strong today, with developer and publisher Valve releasing the latest iteration of the franchise in 2023. The newest version, Counter-Strike 2, has not been without its issues. But its popularity continues the enduring prominence of the Counter-Strike series, signaling that the venerated franchise is likely here to stay for many years yet to come.
But how did the franchise come be to so prominent in the esports space, and role does CS2 have to play in the industry moving forward?
Counter-Strike has roots in the beginnings of esports
Counter-Strike was unquestionably one of the biggest drivers of what we would today consider to be early professional esports movement. It was far from alone, and it wasn’t the most advanced. That likely was StarCraft: Brood War, a real-time strategy game from famed developer Blizzard that caught on in South Korea and led to a professional scene in the country well ahead of any examples of esports industry elsewhere in the world.
But outside of Korea, Counter-Strike quickly became the driving force behind competitive gaming and esports. First released in 1999 as a modification for popular first-person shooter Half-Life, the game was easy to pick up and play for many gamers. Half-Life was borderline ubiquitous software for gamers with a PC, and adding a mod to it was as simple as downloading and applying said mod. So it was that Counter-Strike began to catch fire and spread across the world.
As it spread, so too did its competitive play. Early competitions often centered around online play, most prominently including the Cyberathlete Amateur League (CAL) in North America and the Clanbase Eurocup in Europe. But live, in-person tournaments, similar to those enjoyed by StarCraft players and fans in Korea, were also rising in prominence.
Within just a few years, there were a number of major annual tournaments being held for the original version of Counter-Strike. Notable international tournament organizers included the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) in the United States, the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) in France, and the World Cyber Games (WCG) in Korea. This was in addition to many other regional tournaments through which teams could test their mettle and battle over smaller prizes.
But even at bigger tournaments, prizes weren’t what they are today, and in general there was far less money available to professional Counter-Strike players than there is in today’s thriving esports industry which sees many players and teams playing at the full-time pro level. That’s a far cry from a time when perhaps a small handful of players were able to make a true living through playing CS alone, and even them, it was often a modest one.
Counter-Strike 2 at the fore of a bigger esports scene than ever before
Counter-Strike 2 was released to a far different esports space than that which the original Counter-Strike occupied. But what exactly is it that has changed the scene so much, besides the accrual of years?
Esports betting is at the top of the list. The sports betting industry is growing and expanding around the world each and every year, and esports has absolutely been a part of that. As esports betting continues to grow and thrive, it brings its benefits to the games that are being bet on. And Counter-Strike 2 is at the top of that list.
These benefits have arrived through a myriad of means. Fan interest in tournaments has gone up and become more consistent with betting markets available for each and every game played, which further incentivizes tournament organizers and their sponsoring partners. But those partners are also now more likely to work with the pro teams and players themselves. Betting operators are among the most common and most generous sponsors in the pro CS2 space, showing how esports betting’s rise has contributed to Counter-Strike’s continued prominence in esports and competitive gaming as a whole.
