Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was officially released on August 21, 2012, making it over 11 years old as of 2024. The game was developed by Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment as the fourth main entry in the Counter-Strike series.

While CS:GO itself is 11 years old, the Counter-Strike franchise dates back to 1999 when it was first released as a mod for Half-Life. The transition to CS:GO marked a significant modernization of the classic Counter-Strike formula, bringing improved graphics, new game modes, and updated mechanics while maintaining the core gameplay that made the series famous.

Since its launch, CS:GO has received numerous updates and changes, with the most significant being its transition to a free-to-play model in December 2018. The game has maintained its popularity throughout the years, consistently ranking among the most-played games on Steam.

Key dates in CS:GO's timeline:

Beta Release: August 14, 2012
Official Release: August 21, 2012
Free-to-Play Transition: December 6, 2018
CS2 Announcement (CS:GO's successor): March 22, 2023
CS2 Release (replacing CS:GO): September 27, 2023

Despite its age, CS:GO remained one of the most popular competitive first-person shooters until its replacement by Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) in 2023. The game's enduring success can be attributed to its balanced gameplay, competitive nature, and strong community support.

For those interested in the technical aspect, CS:GO was built on Valve's Source engine, which was later upgraded to Source 2 with the release of CS2. This makes CS:GO the last Counter-Strike title to run on the original Source engine.

Related Articles

Previous Articles