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Pop heads in style with the best Deagle skins in CSGO Counter-Strike Pop heads in style with the best Deagle skins in CSGO By William Davis The best M4A1-S skins in CSGO are silent and stylish Counter-Strike The best M4A1-S skins in CSGO are silent and stylish By William Davis Valve finally nerfs the M4A1-S, should you go back to M4A4? Counter-Strike Valve finally nerfs the M4A1-S, should you go back to M4A4? By Fariha Bhatti
CSGO pro blasts OP M4A1-S as “cheat weapon,” is he right? Counter-Strike
CSGO pro blasts OP M4A1-S as “cheat weapon,” is he right? Fariha Bhatti Operation Riptide was a massive meta-changer for the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, thanks to the M4A1-S buff. Now, Natus Vincere’s Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi has gone as far as to label it as a “cheat weapon” and he’s not the only person saying it’s OP.  In September last year, Valve released a new update called Operation Riptide that tinkered with the loadout. The buffs to the M4A1-S substantially increased the damage dealt …
Why the most expensive CSGO knife costs more than $1.5 million Counter-Strike
Why the most expensive CSGO knife costs more than $1.5 million William Davis The most expensive knife skin in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is worth almost as much as a Bugatti Veyron luxury sports car. But why? A Factory New Karambit | Case Hardened with a perfect blue gem pattern is currently the most expensive knife skin in all of CSGO. Valued for at least $1.5 million, the skin is the single most valuable skin in the entire game. The skin is currently owned …
The best M4A4 skins in CSGO to buy before the buffs Counter-Strike
The best M4A4 skins in CSGO to buy before the buffs William Davis Make your CT side stylish with the five best M4A4 skins in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In the current CSGO metagame, the M4A1-S reigns supreme. The buffs from Operation Riptide have made it superior to the M4A4 and, overpowered according to pros. That may be bad news for M4A4 enjoyers, but it also means that skins for the gun are cheaper than they’ve been for a very, very long time. Now …
CSGO Source 2 code hints at vehicles, ray tracing, new crouch Counter-Strike
CSGO Source 2 code hints at vehicles, ray tracing, new crouch William Davis New Source 2 code hints at big things for the future of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Source 2 rumors are flaring up again, and new code strings added to the Valve engine may hint at some exciting future features. A keen-eyed Valve fan has discovered several new strings in Source 2 that may refer to CSGO. Among them are references to drivable vehicles, a reworked crouch system, and fancy new graphics …
Here’s how to aim train while matchmaking in CSGO Counter-Strike Here’s how to aim train while matchmaking in CSGO By Fariha Bhatti Team Liquid designs CSGO skins, will they appear in-game? Counter-Strike Team Liquid designs CSGO skins, will they appear in-game? By William Davis This new smoke from s1mple actually lets you B-rush on Mirage Counter-Strike This new smoke from s1mple actually lets you B-rush on Mirage By Fariha Bhatti
Is your trash CSGO skin secretly expensive? Here’s how to check Counter-Strike
Is your trash CSGO skin secretly expensive? Here’s how to check William Davis Is there an expensive skin hidden in your blue-rarity trash? Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players can find out with this tip. CSGO skins are commonly known for being expensive, but the vast majority of them are surprisingly cheap. From blues in recent cases to unattractive map skins, there are a ton of skins that aren’t worth much more than an empty inventory slot. But diligent players can sometimes discover a surprisingly …
Boombl4 divorces wife, claims she is blackmailing him Counter-Strike
Boombl4 divorces wife, claims she is blackmailing him Steven Rondina Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhaylov is getting divorced from his wife and the drama is spilling out onto social media. Natus Vincere announced the sudden decision to release Boombl4 due to his being a “high reputational risk.” Though many suspected the cause of this was a possible pro-Russia Instagram post made by his wife or a possible move back to Russia for Boombl4, it might have been something else entirely. A video …
Become a CSGO action star with these coop Workshop maps Counter-Strike
Become a CSGO action star with these coop Workshop maps William Davis Coop maps are the perfect way to unwind from a long day of grinding ranked in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The CSGO Workshop is full of amazing user-created content. From in-depth aim trainers to crosshair generators, there’s a tool to solve nearly every problem CSGO players might run into, including boredom. Coop maps are a perfect way to lighten the mood after a few tough competitive matches. The low-stakes gameplay and …
This molotov lineup is the easiest way to retake Mirage’s A site Counter-Strike
This molotov lineup is the easiest way to retake Mirage’s A site Fariha Bhatti Mirage’s A site is comparatively easier to break into than B, but Counter-Terrorists can still delay the bomb plant using this lineup.  Almost all Counter-Strike: Global Offensive maps are biased towards the CTs to some extent, but Mirage’s A site can be a handful. Defending the location against terrorists who know their smokes is no easy feat. A few smokes coupled with molotovs can quickly open the site for a …
Flex on the force buy with the best P90 skins in CSGO William Davis Counter-Strike The best P90 skins will make you call a force buy after every tough round. The P90 has a controversial reputation in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. For experienced CSGO players, it’s a riskier eco option without much going for it. But for those new to the game, the P90’s high rate of fire and relatively low price make it a common sight regardless of economy. No matter how cool your AWP …
Nigma Galaxy becomes first all-female team to win ESL Impact Olivia Richman Counter-Strike Nigma Galaxy has become the first team to win ESL Impact, ESL’s all-female Counter-Strike: Global Offensive circuit. The Euorpean all-female team reverse-swept Brazil’s FURIA in the grand finals in Dallas over the weekend. While Nigma Galaxy started the grand finals in a rough spot against their Brazilian opponents, the focused squad ultimately came back stronger to win the event. Nigma Galaxy also beat BIG EQUIPA in the semifinals on its …
CSGO players can now reproduce smoke through the floor bug Fariha Bhatti Counter-Strike The long-standing smoke through the floor bug is no longer random. A player has broken the code to reproduce the curios smoke glitch.  It’s no secret that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has had minor bug problems, with grenades suddenly slipping through the ground. When this would randomly happen, the smoke no longer remained a safe hideous. At the time, the bug couldn’t be replicated and it would happen when players least …
Antwerp Major stickers are on sale, are they worth investing in? William Davis Counter-Strike If you’re looking to make a pretty penny off stickers, the Antwerp Major may be a good time to invest. Every Counter-Strike: Global Offensive major brings a ton of new stickers to the game and as every player knows, older slaps can get extremely expensive. With the Antwerp Major stickers now on sale, this is the best time to stock up on autographs and team stickers. But entrepreneurial fans may …
Newly discovered run boost molotov on Overpass is too OP Fariha Bhatti Counter-Strike Overpass is one of the oldest maps, but its exceptional layout offers opportunities for wild plays. This new run boost molotov on Overpass is an excellent example.  Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s map pool in 2022 features some of the classic locations like Dust 2, Inferno, Overpass, and more. Players continue to engineer new ways to play these old maps, keeping CSGO as fresh as ever. Especially Overpass, a map that has …
Dr DisRespect one-ups CSGO with skins that players legally own William Davis Counter-Strike Skins are a core part of many popular multiplayer games today, but players usually don’t legally own their fancy cosmetics. Streaming icon Herschel “Dr DisRespect” Beahm IV wants to change that. Dr DisRespect’s new game studio Midnight Society has announced a partnership with technology company Polygon Studios. The joint venture all but confirms rumors that the studio’s upcoming game will involve blockchain technology. According to official information, the studio’s upcoming …
GeT_RiGhT gets $16,000 CSGO birthday present from Trainwreckstv Steven Rondina Counter-Strike Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund recently celebrated his 31st birthday and he got quite the gift. Tyler “Trainwreckstv” Niknam crashed the festivities with a donation and a gift for GeT_RiGhT during a birthday stream. The streamer purchased the generous gift through high-rolling skin trader zipeL. The gift was a holographic Team Dignitas sticker from the 2014 ESL One Katowice Major. The sticker is exceedingly rare and costs upwards of $16,000. The gift …
Boombl4 kicked from Na’Vi, was it over wife’s political views? William Davis Counter-Strike Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov is officially of out Natus Vincere’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster, but it may not have anything to do with his gameplay. Natus Vincere has officially announced the departure of longtime captain Boombl4. Based on statements from the sponsor and his former teammates, Boombl4’s kick is not related to his in-game performance. Instead, it’s because he represents “high reputational risks for the club.” The kick is possibly related …
Are CSGO bots becoming too powerful for players to handle? Steven Rondina Counter-Strike Calling someone a bot in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has traditionally been an insult. Should that change, though? CSGO fans will occasionally see clips pop up of a heroic bot leading its team to victory in clumsy fashion. Those clips seem to be happening more and more frequently, however. Most recently, a clip on social media popped up showing a bot making a shady play. Instead of the bot awkwardly panning …
Ludwig pulls $1,000 knife in his first-ever CSGO case opening Olivia Richman Counter-Strike Ludwig Ahgren plays a variety of games, making him one of the top variety streamers on YouTube, but he decided to try out Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for the first time and had great success. Well, with the loot boxes at least. Ludwig decided to stream his first time ever playing CSGO. He didn’t start with trying out weapons or getting a feel for the movement, though. Instead, Ludwig decided to …
Gucci launches new CSGO playing academy, but can you join? William Davis Counter-Strike Aspiring Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players can find an unlikely ally in high-end Italian fashion. Italian fashion studio Gucci and CSGO matchmaking service FACEIT have teamed up to create a training program for aspiring esports professionals. The system, called Gucci Gaming Academy, will prepare young players to join the top level of CSGO esports. Although technically any player can join Gucci Gaming Academy, the program will pull from existing FPL players. …
These are the callouts you must know playing Overpass in CSGO Steven Rondina Counter-Strike Overpass is one of the most enduring maps of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and because of that, any ranked player needs to commit its callouts to memory. Overpass is one of the most popular and notorious maps in competitive CSGO. Though it’s always been below Mirage and Dust 2 in terms of popularity, it’s still stuck around for years. This largely stems from the incredible depth of the map. While other …

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.