Counter-Strike, the team-based, tactical first-person shooter from Valve that originally began as a Half-Life mod and challenges players to outwit and out-shoot one another as either terrorists or counter-terrorists, is now 25 years old, according to the iconic title’s development history, which includes the release of an initial beta in June 1999. Counter-Strike 2, a definitive sequel built on the Source 2 engine that delivers several improvements, including responsive smoke grenades and sub-tick updates, remains free to play following its launch in August.
Counter-Strike titles include:
- Counter-Strike (2000)
- Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (2004)
- Counter-Strike: Source (2004)
- Counter-Strike Neo (2004)
- Counter-Strike Online (2008)
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012)
- Counter-Strike Online 2 (2013)
- Counter-Strike Nexon: Studio (2014)
- Counter Strike 2 (2023)
Co-creator Minh “Gooseman” Le on why Counter-Strike became a success, per a 2001 interview:
- “I’m not really sure. I get this so much and I can’t answer it. I don’t really see it as being so different than other games.”
- “At the heart of it, you put your mouse on someone, you shoot and he’s dead, right? Why people like this one so much more than others, I don’t know.”
- “I don’t really have one good reason why people are playing this versus other games. They’re just finicky. They change their tastes every year. You can’t really rely on them.”
- “If I do make a sequel I can’t really expect the same number of people to be playing it. I don’t really know how the thing works – you get lucky sometimes. That’s it.”
Some Counter-Strike 2 promos from Valve:
Counter-Strike 2 features:
- All-new CS Ratings with the updated Premier mode
- Global and Regional leaderboards
- Upgraded and overhauled maps
- Game-changing dynamic smoke grenades
- Tick-rate-independent gameplay
- Redesigned visual effects and audio
- All items from CS:GO moving forward to CS2
Game description:
For over two decades, Counter-Strike has offered an elite competitive experience, one shaped by millions of players from across the globe. And now the next chapter in the CS story is about to begin. This is Counter-Strike 2.
A free upgrade to CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 marks the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike’s history. Built on the Source 2 engine, Counter-Strike 2 is modernized with realistic physically-based rendering, state of the art networking, and upgraded Community Workshop tools.