Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Upgraded Italy has arrived in CS2
Olivia Richman
A reimagined Italy has arrived in Counter-Strike 2. The Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test just received a new update, which included the removal of Anubis and Ancient in favor of Italy. The map is now available for Deathmatch and casual game modes. The map looks brand new with vibrant lighting and detailed textures. But Italy’s changes are more than just cosmetic. Developers also added two new connector areas. Engineer and CS2 …
Counter-Strike
CS2 may adopt MR12 format, and some players hate it
Fariha Bhatti
Valve hasn’t officially shrunk the size of Counter-Strike 2 Matchmaking yet, but the community is already pouring in feedback, with the majority disagreeing with the potential change. Data miners have found plausible clues in CS2 files pointing to MR12 format being in the works for competitive games. This means the first team to reach 13 rounds wins, similar to how LAN matches were played in CS 1.6 and the system …
Counter-Strike
Leaks suggest CS2 may remove 4-stack queues
Fariha Bhatti
The matchmaking system for Counter-Strike 2 is undergoing much-needed changes, including a feature aimed at addressing toxicity issues to a modest yet significant degree. According to data miners, CS2 is once again drawing inspiration from rival Valorant and third-party platform Faceit, limiting party members from queuing in a 4-stack. In an effort to curb toxicity, the MM may look significantly different in CS2. Unlike other FPS games like Valorant, CS …
Counter-Strike
CSGO exploit could leak your IP address to opponents
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players may be able to steal each other’s IP addresses thanks to a concerning new exploit. CSGO has continued to be a top FPS title thanks to its intense and mechanically focused gameplay combined with its free-to-play status. With the announcement of Counter-Strike 2, more people have been playing the classic shooter than ever before. Despite its popularity, however, CSGO is a bit outdated. This was further …
Counter-Strike
NAVI refutes claim that the org paid $1.35 million for iM and JL
Olivia Richman
Natus Vincere has denied that it paid $1.35 million to acquire Ivan “iM” Mihai and Justinas “jL” Lekavicius from Cybersport. Ahead of the next Counter-Strike season, Natus Vincere surprised the FPS community by moving from a totally Ukrainian-Russian roster to an international one. This included a rumored trade with Apeks and GamerLegion that cost the organization $1.35 million, something that NAVI has since denied. Natus Vincere recently released Denis “electroNic” …
Counter-Strike
CS2 leaderboard: All we know about the new competitive ladder
Fariha Bhatti
Global Elites from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive would be glad to know that competition will become more intense in CS2. With CS2 leaderboard, the grind won’t stop at a rank badge. Data miners claim that CS2 may have a leaderboard system with a ladder beyond rank. The global and regional ranking will provide rank demons a solid reason to grind beyond Global Elite. CSGO players often jump to Faceit after sailing …
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne bids farewell to CSGO with a moment of silence
Fariha Bhatti
IEM Cologne final was special for many reasons, but fans will forever remember the event for its spine-tingling farewell to CSGO. The iconic FPS title that ruled Steam charts and the hearts of fans would be replaced by CS2 any day now. While fans were upset that Valve or the organizer didn’t properly bid farewell to CSGO at the major, ESL has done the job. The sun’s setting on CSGO, …
Counter-Strike
How to play old maps like Dust 2 in CS2 beta
Fariha Bhatti
Anubis is the only playable map in the CS2 beta as of writing, but it’s also possible to try out old maps like Overpass and Dust 2. Valve is currently testing all overhauled maps in Counter-Strike 2 one by one. As the release date approaches, the test duration for each map gets shorter, tempting players to spend more time exploring previous locations. However, the old one returns to the workshop …
Valve changing CS2 esports with open circuit, no partner teams
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Valve is attempting to make it easier for teams to get into high-level tournaments by changing the ecosystem. Counter-Strike 2 is just around the corner and Valve is most likely anticipating even more eyes on its Counter-Strike esports scene. Despite Counter-Strike: Global Offensive being over a decade old, the competitive scene for the game has continued to be one of the biggest in esports. Now, Valve is hoping to expand …
This one-way smoke trick in CS2 will blow your mind
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Who said one-ways are not as viable in Counter-Strike 2? This new smoke trick on Nuke would bag you easy kills. When Valve tore the curtain on 3D smokes, everyone had the same questions: Are one-ways gone forever? To some extent, they did become useless. Unlike previous shape-shifting smokes, the CS2 smokes are solid objects that remain consistent. However, it’s still possible to create new angles and find holes in …
CSGO case tier list: Best cases to open in 2023
William Davis
Counter-Strike
Looking to start an opening spree? Our CSGO case tier list will help you get the most bang for your buck in 2023. CSGO case prices are going crazy with the imminent release of Counter-Strike 2, but that hasn’t stopped players from opening them. If you’re looking to pull a profit, the case that you choose to open will have a massive impact on your return. Return on investment is …
This new pistol strat in CSGO will blow your mind
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
This new pistol strat is proof that CSGO players are the most creative of them of all. Valve is brewing Counter-Strike 2 on the side, and those still waiting on CS2 access are having fun with good old Global Offensive, a game that refuses to show signs of aging. Clever players continue finding new tricks and strats, keeping the game fresh as ever. In a competitve game against popular streamer …
How to tell if you got invited to the CS2 beta test
William Davis
Counter-Strike
You may have gotten invited to the CS2 beta without knowing it, so here’s how to tell. Forget blue gems and Kato crafts, the new hotness in CSGO is beta access. More valuable than any skin, access to the beta is extremely exclusive and locked to individual accounts. Participation isn’t mandatory, and there’s a good chance that there are many accounts that have been invited to the party but failed …
CSGO community comes together on /r/place to celebrate
William Davis
Counter-Strike
The CSGO community flexed its muscles to give their favorite game a spot on /r/place, but it was not to last. /r/place doesn’t come around very often, but when it does, it quickly becomes a hotspot for fandoms of stripes to represent themselves. Various video games often take center stage, and CSGO was no exception. However, just because art appears doesn’t mean it will survive forever. Here’s the history of …
The Role of Rarity and Condition in CS2 Skin Trading
William Davis
Counter-Strike
In addition to the addictive gameplay, CS2 gives players access to greater customization options for weapons and characters through skins, which create a whole market of in-game items. Skins can vary in rarity and condition, which directly affects their value and desirability among players. Let’s look at how these factors determine trading dynamics and why rarity and condition become key aspects when buying and selling skins in CS2. In CS2, …
CS2 has a new logo and players are just finding out
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Valve has silently overhauled the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive logo for CS2 and players don’t like it. The CS2 logo was initially teased as just text on a full blue background, but Valve later unveiled an updated version. However, no one really noticed the exact change until a player pointed it out in a community thread. The new logo looks the same at first glance but is actually different. Apparently, Valve …
CSGO case prices are skyrocketing, here’s why
William Davis
Counter-Strike
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, …
Second CS2 major rumored for Shanghai, China
William Davis
Counter-Strike
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 …
The best CSGO knife tier list for case opening in 2023
William Davis
Counter-Strike
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 …
Take control of Overpass B site with this new setup in CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
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 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.
