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

Before its official release, CS:GO went through a closed beta testing phase that began on November 30, 2011. This beta was initially limited to a select group of professional Counter-Strike players and community members to ensure the game met competitive standards.

The development of CS:GO started in 2010 when Valve partnered with Hidden Path Entertainment, who had previously worked on Counter-Strike: Source. The original goal was to create a console port of Counter-Strike: Source, but the project eventually evolved into a completely new game.

At launch, CS:GO was available for $14.99 and included classic game modes like Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch, and Arms Race. The game featured eight classic maps at release, including fan favorites like Dust II, Inferno, and Nuke.

It's worth noting that CS:GO became free-to-play on December 6, 2018, marking a significant shift in the game's business model. This change coincided with the introduction of the Danger Zone battle royale mode.

Today, CS:GO remains one of the most popular competitive first-person shooters, with millions of active players and a thriving esports scene. The game has received consistent updates since its release, including new maps, weapons, features, and gameplay improvements.

However, in March 2023, Valve released Counter-Strike 2, which serves as the successor to CS:GO, built on the Source 2 engine. Despite this, the original release date of CS:GO - August 21, 2012 - marks an important milestone in competitive gaming history.

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