Counter-Strike
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 …
Counter-Strike
Will CS2 come to PS5 or Xbox Series? What you should know
William Davis
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 …
Counter-Strike
We may know the Counter-Strike 2 release date now
Olivia Richman
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 …
Counter-Strike
RobbaN steps down as FaZe Clan CSGO coach, hints at next move
Olivia Richman
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 …
Counter-Strike
The noob blue gem karambit has sold for $169,000
William Davis
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 …
Iconic Door Stuck meme returns to CS2 in a new bug
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2 is still in beta so everyone had expected a litany of bugs. But the iconic “Door Stuck” cameo on Nuke has taken everyone by surprise. Valve recently swapped out Mirage for Nuke, bringing a change of scenery to CS2’s dusty pool. Most players were glad Mirage is gone, even though Nuke isn’t their top favorite map due to its confusing layout. However, it’s surely no longer a boring …
ohnePixel planning $100,000 case opening, here’s how to watch
William Davis
Counter-Strike
The biggest case opening in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive history is about to go down and ohnePixel will be its gracious host. Ludwig “Anomaly” Lagerstedt made history with his $10,000+ case opening in 2021, but fellow skin aficionado ohnePixel is set to shatter his record with more than ten times the value of that unboxing. A massive donation from a fan has given him the opportunity to open $100,000 worth of …
Inferno is unrecognizably scenic in Counter-Strike 2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Inferno is one of the confirmed maps for the competitive Counter-Strike 2 pool, and new leaks have revealed the first look at the artsy masterpiece. Inferno is easily one of the most eye-pleasing maps in CS2. The antique architecture, distant sounds of a horse stable, and the melodic violin make Inferno a wholly spiritual experience. But nothing is serene about the map thanks to cut-throat corners that aid killer duels. …
How to Trade in CS2: A Beginner’s Guide to Skins Trading
William Davis
Counter-Strike
Skin trading is becoming increasingly popular every day, with numerous players exchanging their skins for various purposes. Some are collectors, while others do it for profit. Regardless of your motive, there are some essential pieces of information you should know to succeed in skin trading. This includes understanding specific details, knowing which skins to trade, and protecting yourself from scams and fraud. Let’s dive into the world of skin trading! …
CS2 players turn grenade inspection into a sexual meme
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2 isn’t officially here, but memes have already surfaced. Valve now lets you inspect a grenade, and the new feature has turned into an odd meme. CS2 is still in the final stages of development, as Valve keeps adding finishing touches and visual upgrades. Recently, Mirage was swapped out for Nuke, but the developer also added a brand new grenade inspection feature in CS2. Meaning players can look at …
Valve adds two new maps to CS2 beta, removes Mirage
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Seasoned Counter-Strike players would be pleased to discover that Mirage has been removed from Counter-Strike 2 beta. CS2 beta kicked off in March 2023 with Dust 2 as the only playable location. Eventually, Valve swapped out the dusty map for Mirage during the second beta wave, but players weren’t thrilled about the change. Now, the developer has removed Mirage as the only map, adding Nuke into the mix. In June …
Over $2 million in CSGO skins are gone after ban wave
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Millions of dollars worth of CSGO skins have been lost forever after 40 big-time trader accounts were banned on Steam. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive skin trading has remained lucrative throughout the years and it’s set to continue when Counter-Strike 2 drops. Recently, however, Valve has been cracking down on some trader accounts seemingly without warning, possibly in association with gambling sites. Recently, 40 expensive accounts were banned in alleged relation to …
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.
