Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was officially released on August 21, 2012, by Valve Corporation. The game launched simultaneously on multiple platforms including Windows PC, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

Before its official release, CS:GO went through a closed beta phase that began on November 30, 2011. This beta was initially limited to a select group of professional Counter-Strike players and community members who provided valuable feedback to help shape the final version of the game.

The development of CS:GO was actually announced in August 2011, when Valve revealed they were working on a new iteration of the Counter-Strike series. They collaborated with Hidden Path Entertainment, who had previously worked on Counter-Strike: Source, to create this new version.

While the game was initially sold for $14.99, it became free-to-play in December 2018, marking a significant shift in its business model. This change coincided with the introduction of the "Danger Zone" battle royale mode.

Here are the key dates in CS:GO's timeline:

August 2011 - Initial announcement
November 30, 2011 - Closed beta begins
August 21, 2012 - Official release
December 6, 2018 - Transition to free-to-play model

It's worth noting that CS:GO was the fourth main entry in the Counter-Strike series, following the original Counter-Strike (2000), Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (2004), and Counter-Strike: Source (2004).

Today, CS:GO continues to be one of the most popular competitive first-person shooters in the world, with millions of active players and a thriving esports scene. The game has received regular updates since its launch, continuously evolving while maintaining its core tactical gameplay mechanics.

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