Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was officially released on August 21, 2012, by Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment. The game was initially developed as a simple port of Counter-Strike: Source to consoles but evolved into a completely new game during development.

The development of CS:GO began in March 2010 when Valve partnered with Hidden Path Entertainment. The team's initial goal was to create a version of Counter-Strike that would work well on both PC and console platforms. However, as development progressed, they realized the potential for creating something much more substantial.

Before the official release, CS:GO went through several beta testing phases. The closed beta started in November 2011, with a limited number of professional Counter-Strike players and community members getting access to test the game. The public beta launched in 2012, allowing more players to experience the game and provide feedback.

When CS:GO first launched, it was available on multiple platforms including:

Microsoft Windows
OS X
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Linux (added in 2014)

The game initially sold for $14.99 and later became free-to-play in December 2018, marking a significant shift in its business model. This change coincided with the introduction of Danger Zone, CS:GO's battle royale mode.

Since its release in 2012, CS:GO has received regular updates, introducing new features, maps, and gameplay improvements. The game has grown from its initial release to become one of the most popular competitive first-person shooters in the world, particularly in the esports scene.

Important development dates:

March 2010: Development begins
November 2011: Closed beta testing starts
August 21, 2012: Official release date
December 2018: Transition to free-to-play model

CS:GO continued as the main Counter-Strike title until June 2023, when it was effectively replaced by Counter-Strike 2, marking the end of an era that lasted nearly 11 years.

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