Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
OhnePixel enters esports as CS2 team owner and coach
Tokoni Uti
After opening cases and giving League of Legends a shot, streamer OhnePixel is stepping into another unexplored territory of CS2 esports with a brand new lineup. OhnePixel is known for his case openings and occasional beef with Counter-Strike 2 developer Valve, which is likely just banter since he’s one of the most famed streamers in CS2. When OhnePixel played League of Legends, it was met with mostly negative reactions from …
Counter-Strike
Gabriel “Toledo” FalleN Career History
William Davis
To achieve success and esports one requires true dedication and hard work, and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo knows it from experience. The Brazilian professional CS2 player, who began his career in the times of Counter Strike: Source and Counter Strike 1.6, continues to demonstrate impressive results in CS2 to this day, becoming an inspiration for the new generation of CS2 players. FalleN often combines the roles of an AWPer and an …
Counter-Strike
Can you use null binds and Snap Tap on FACEIT?
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Null binds are shaking up the competitive gaming scene, and FACEIT’s new guidelines are turning heads. In the fast-paced world of competitive gaming, players constantly seek ways to gain an edge over their opponents. One old technique, that has garnered attention recently, is the concept of null binds. Null bind, a term used to describe specific key bindings created with console commands that make you unable to input multiple keys …
Counter-Strike
All you need to know about role of rarity and condition in CS2 skin trading
William Davis
CS2 has a sizable skin trading market where items are exchanged based on their rarity and condition. But why do these factors matter in CS2 skin trading? 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 …
Counter-Strike
List of new CS2 community maps includes a classic 1.6 location
Fariha Bhatti
The big Counter-Strike 2 update is here, bringing in five community maps to competitive, Wingman, casual, and deathmatch modes in CS2. Leakers had earlier discovered a mention of classic and new CS2 maps in the game’s codes. While the initial guess was that they would be included in CS2’s first operation ever, Valve has rolled them all out on a random Wednesday. Not all players are pleased with Valve not …
Counter-Strike
Valve disappoints players by skipping CS2 update on 25th anniversary
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike is 25 years old, and Valve surprised everyone by celebrating the silver jubilee milestone with a mere social media post. Counter-Strike was released as a trailblazing first-person shooter on Jun 19, 1999. In 2024, it remains at the helm of its category with impeccable gunplay and advanced in-game mechanics. However, players are almost never pleased with the developer. This time, their discontent stems from Valve’s lackluster celebration of the …
Counter-Strike
All we know about new CS2 operation release, content, and more
Fariha Bhatti
Leakers anticipate that Counter-Strike 2 will soon launch its first operation, with some surprising content reportedly in store for players. Valve employs operations to bring in fresh content and cases to its flagship shooter, but it has been almost three years since the game last received an operation in September 2021. With Counter-Strike’s 25th anniversary around the corner, it’s safe to expect a big update, and leakers agree. Credible CS2 …
Counter-Strike
These are the very first skins in Counter-Strike
William Davis
One of the most interesting and innovative features of Counter-Strike was the introduction of skins—visual changes for weapons and characters. Although skins are an integral part of the gaming industry today, it is worth going back to the early days of Counter-Strike to understand how the first skin came to be and became the basis for the entire skin culture. With the release of CSGO in 2012, Valve Corporation introduced …
CS2 Trust Factor is working again, and it’s more brutal than ever
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Trust Factor is back in Counter-Strike 2, and leakers claim it’s better than before. CS2 Trust Factor does not necessarily punish or reduce cheaters in any way, but it does help players stay aware of what they are getting into before they hit go. It’s an alert system that lets you know how trustworthy a teammate is based on an unknown but credible metric by the Valve. Trust Factor alerts …
Nivera returns to CS2 in European lineup spearheaded by NBK
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Two-time major winner Nathan “NBK” Schmitt is rolling up his sleeves for Indian organization Revenant Esports to lead a fresh Counter-Strike 2 roster consisting of European players. Revenant Esports is an India-based organization with a strong presence in the local esports scene. Despite not having achieved global recognition yet, the organization’s CS2 roster secured an impressive first runner-up position in tournaments such as Skyesports Masters 2023 and the DreamHack Hyderabad …
Is CS2 pro player Stewie2K playing in IEM Dallas?
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Jake “Stewie2K” Yip is back to tier-1 Counter-Strike under G2’s banner for IEM Dallas, and he’s already making waves. Stewie2K had stepped away from CS2 when he was in his prime. The top North American pro looked at Valorant to continue his career, but his journey as a streamer was short-lived. After dipping his toes in Riot’s shooter, Stewie2K made a return to CS2 in March 2023, but IEM Dallas is his …
Counter-Strike 2 now lets you rent skins
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2 has some of the most expensive virtual items. The great news is that you can now rent skins in CS2. On May 24, Valve announced that gamers would be able to rent skins in CS2 as an alternative to buying them. This was in response to some players complaining that they don’t want to “gamble” by opening cases in hopes of getting the skin they want. At this …
CS2 update brings massive Vertigo changes
Olivia Richman
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2’s sudden update brought some big changes to Vertigo that will impact how teams maneuver around the map. Vertigo is a controversial map, with many CS2 players saying it’s the worst one to play on — or watch pros play on. Gamers have noted that there are not many options when playing on Vertigo, creating one-dimensional and repetitive gameplay. That might change after the latest update. Valve dropped a …
Valve shakes up CS2 economy with price changes for fan-favorite weapon
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Valve has dropped a sizeable Counter-Strike 2 update out of nowhere, projected to shake up the meta. The latest May release notes for CS2 add price changes for M4A4 and incendiary. Valve has released a massive CS2 update, which includes tweaks to almost all mechanical areas of the game, including chickens. The release notes add new animations for the cute pets, significant changes to Vertigo’s layout and Molotov spread, and …
s1mple is offering lessons to help you get good at CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Aspiring Counter-Strike 2 pro players will be glad to know that they now have a chance to play like s1mple, who is now offering lessons to help you get better at the game. Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has earned his mettle as one of the best CS players in history. With a record 21 HLTV MVP medals, a Major trophy, and the title of the best player of 2018, 2021, and 2022, s1mple is the crowned king …
Recent CS2 ban wave punishes cheaters during live games
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
The latest CS2 ban wave has rid the game of thousands of cheaters and account boosters, and fans are over the moon. Valve recently announced Overwatch’s return, a feature that will allow trusted players to investigate suspicious games. This update was well-received by players who are tired of playing unfair games. Although it is not a direct upgrade to the anti-cheat system, it is a step in the right direction. …
Players hopeful after Valve adds Overwatch to expose CS2 cheaters
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Overwatch is back in CS2, but to be able to get access, you must be a trusted player. Counter-Strike 2 may be a new game but has the same old problems. Cheaters are as common in CS2 as in CSGO, but Valve has taken a step in a positive direction to tackle the problem. With the return of Overwatch, Valve is seeking the community’s help to weed out the cheaters. …
Valve replaces Overpass with Dust2 as the new CS2 map
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
A popular Counter-Strike map is returning to active duty in place of Overpass, Valve has announced. April 25 patch notes in CS2 are packed with game-changing updates. From allowing the left-hand model to a newly adjusted bob movement, the latest release notes have pleased the fans. That’s not all. The sizeable update also tweaks the active duty map pool and existing locations in CS2. If you liked Dust2, we have …
How to play with the left-hand model in CS2
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2 has been out for half a year without a left-handed view model. Now, Valve is allowing CS2 viewmodel commands, and players are over the moon. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was known for its high level of customizability, allowing players to use console commands to change various aspects of the game, such as the viewmodel and bob command. However, when Valve shifted the game to Source 2, players were disappointed to …
The role of case opening sites in the CS2 economy: A gamer’s perspective
William Davis
Counter-Strike
Immersed in the vibrant world of CS2, gamers understand the profound value every skin and weapon holds, extending far beyond their pixelated facade. Yet, amidst this bustling economy, case opening sites emerge as pivotal players, shaping the landscape behind the scenes. Let’s delve into the realm of these platforms, unraveling their significance in sculpting the CS2 economy through the lens of passionate gamers. Within the expansive CS2 realm, skins reign …
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.
