Counter-Strike is a legendary FPS with a rich history and multiple games spanning over 20 years. With tournaments with prize pools of over $1 million, hundreds of thousands of concurrent players, and countless Twitch viewers, Counter-Strike has become something of an esports phenomenon.

Counter-Strike’s emergence from a mod for Half-Life

Counter-Strike’s roots go back to the late 1990s, when two players, Minh “Gooseman” Le and Jess “Cliff” Cliff, developed a mod for Half-Life. The mod combined tactical gameplay with team-based action, setting it apart from the FPS norm when it was released in June 1999.

The success of the original mod led Valve to work with the developer to create the standalone game, Counter-Strike 1.0, which was released in November 2000. This was the first major milestone in Counter-Strike’s history. Counter-Strike 1.0 was an instant sensation.

• Counter-Strike (2000): The first standalone version of the game was released.
• Counter-Strike 1.6 (2003): A major breakthrough in game development came with the release of Counter-Strike 1.6 in 2003. This version implemented new innovative tactical elements that made the game more competitive.
• Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (2004): The first of two sequels released by Valve in 2004, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero was released in March and featured updated character models, textures, maps, and other graphical improvements.
• Counter-Strike: Source (2004): Released eight months later, the game used Valve’s new in-house Source game engine to improve graphics and physics, giving the game more realistic environmental interactions. Counter-Strike: Source also featured Steam integration for the first time.
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012): The next big milestone was the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2012. CS:GO updated its graphics and introduced new gameplay mechanics, such as a matchmaking system that made it easier for players to find opponents of a similar skill level.
• Counter-Strike 2 (2023):Based on Valve’s Source 2 engine, this update was released in summer 2023 and includes updates to some of the game’s core mechanics, a whole new generation of graphical improvements, and new physics. Improvements include more responsive smoke, subtick updates, new servers, and audio and map reworking.

Counter-Strike gameplay and mechanics

Players can play as terrorists or counter-terrorists in 5-on-5 matches, with each side having to complete one of two objectives, which vary depending on the map type. The terrorists’ main goal is to plant a bomb and successfully detonate it, while the counter-terrorists’ goal is to defuse the bomb after it has been planted. Other objectives include hostage rescue and assassination. A team can also win by completely eliminating the opposing team. Each game consists of multiple rounds, with both teams taking turns playing with each side. At the start of each round, players can customize their weapons using money earned from achievements in the previous round.

Economic system

One of the most important strategic aspects of Counter-Strike, and what ties the rounds of a match into a coherent experience, is the economy. The income system and money spent on items gives the game an extra layer of depth.

Passive income

Players start the first round with a starting capital of $800, a strategically chosen amount to allow players to buy tools and pistols to fight in the first round. After the first round, if they lose a round, each player will receive at least $1900, and the winning team will take home at least $3250. Further passive income is generated by a losing streak bonus as a catch-up mechanism, peaking after five rounds. After every losing round, the losing team will earn an additional $500.

Active income

You can also earn money by completing one of the various objectives. First, there is the kill bonus, which depends on the weapon used to kill your opponent and can be up to $1500. In addition to the kill reward, you also receive bonus currency for completing map objectives. For Terrorists, planting a bomb means that you and your teammates receive an additional $300 to play in the next round. For Counter-Terrorists: If you successfully defuse the bomb, your team will receive an additional $250 on top of the round win bonus of $3,250.

Spending or losing cash

During the buying phase before the start of each round, players can spend money on weapons, tools and armor to be better equipped than their opponents. In some cases, if a player does not have enough funds to make a strong buy, the team may choose a so-called “eco round”, where they spend nothing or a small amount of money in case they are sure to make the next strong buy. Round can.

Weapon categories

Counter-Strike‘s arsenal, from submachine guns to rifles, is what makes the game stand out. Players must hone their skills and learn the intricacies of crosshair placement and spray control. Each weapon has its own recoil pattern and playstyle. Weapon types are pistols, rifles, submachine guns, heavy weapons and grenades. A knife is added to the character by default and is only customized through cosmetic modifications that can be made outside of the game by purchasing skins.

Game modes

The main game modes in Counter-Strike are:

• Competitive: This is the most authentic and traditional game mode that reflects the rules of the professional Counter-Strike game. Two teams of five players each compete in a best of 30 rounds match on the Bomb Defusal map. The goal is to eliminate the opposing team or complete the map’s objective (plant or defuse the bomb). Victories in this mode affect the player’s ranking.
• Casual: A more relaxed version of the Competitive mode where players can join or leave at any time. Each includes teams of up to 10 players, but with simpler game setups, such as: B. Bulletproof vests and deactivation kits that are automatically given to players.
• Deathmatch: A fast-paced mode where the goal is to kill as many players as possible within a time limit. Players respawn immediately after being killed and can choose any weapon upon respawn.
• Wingman: A short, fast version of the competitive mode played in a 2v2 format on a small map. Matches consist of best of 16 rounds of either defusing a bomb or rescuing a hostage.
• Arms Race: A progressive deathmatch mode where players receive a new weapon immediately after registering a kill. The first player to score a kill with the ultimate weapon, the golden knife, wins the match.
• Demolition: A combination of bomb defuse mode and the weapon advancements of Arms Race. Players receive a new weapon with every kill, but the weapon set evolves in a predetermined way and the goal is to eliminate the enemy team or detonate/defuse the bomb.
• Danger Zone: A battle royale mode where up to 18 players compete on large maps, searching for equipment and fighting until they are the last man or duo standing.

Maps

Counter-Strike has a number of iconic maps available depending on the game mode. Apart from maps designed by Valve itself, Counter-Strike features a rotating selection of community-created maps, the best of which have a chance to stay in the game forever.

Mirage is the most chosen card in regular competitive play. Inferno is also a perennial favorite in the game, having been around since Counter-Strike 1.1. Inferno has seen many adaptations and redesigns over the years, but it never went out of style. Nuke is a popular bomb defuse map that appears in Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Source, and CS:GO.

The evolution of Counter-Strike gameplay and mechanics

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero was the first sequel to Counter-Strike and featured two single-player game modes and a bonus level. The game was considered a failure due to many setbacks and low fan enthusiasm.

The second sequel, Counter-Strike: Source, was released shortly after the first sequel and used the Valve Source game engine. This innovation included new game elements such as cards, weapons, and objects.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, released eight years later, included new additions such as the most popular Dust II map. Modern graphics and character models made the game look modern and sleek. The game retained the traditional bomb defuse and weapon spray modes.

In August 2013, an update for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive called “Arms Deal” was released. The update added crates (loot boxes) containing up to 20 skins to the game, with each skin having a different value depending on its rarity. Each box cost around $2.49, and the skins were traded on the market. The crates became popular because players could make real money by selling the skins they had acquired. You could end up unwrapping a knife worth thousands of dollars or a skin worth less than a dollar. The choice was all down to luck. This system spawned an entire gambling industry as players used the skins across hundreds of online gaming sites. Valve did not initially consider loot boxes to be gambling. However, there were concerns that minors could participate in this form of gambling, as global gambling sites lack age verification. Both Valve and Steam’s terms of service prohibit gambling, and players could be banned for it. Released in 2019,

Operation Shattered Web brought several significant updates, including agent skins and new collectibles (rewards and collectible coins). Operation is one of the reasons why the game is still growing in popularity.

Competitive scene

With CS:GO, Counter-Strike began its foray into the esports scene and quickly became an essential part of competitive gaming. CS:GO was popular for its engaging format and the fact that it was easy to learn but extremely difficult to master. Over the years, certain events have emerged as the most popular CS:GO events. Major events such as the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) and the ESL One series offered significant prize money. Acer has proudly sponsored numerous tournaments over the years, bringing its successful Predator gaming brand to the Counter-Strike community.

The Majors

CS:GO Majors are tournaments organized by Counter-Strike developer Valve in collaboration with external tournament organizers such as ESL, PGL, and BLAST. Majors usually take place twice a year. There have been 19 CS:GO Majors to date, with the final one taking place in Paris, France in May 2023.

Intel Extreme Masters

The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Series is a long-running global professional gaming tour. The series is produced by ESL, one of the world’s largest esports organizations, in partnership with Intel, who serves as a main sponsor alongside industry giants such as Acer. IEM focuses on a variety of competitive games, but is best known for its CS:GO, Starcraft II, and League of Legends tournaments.

• IEM Katowice:The IEM Katowice tournament is one of the most famous standalone esports tournaments in the world and has singlehandedly helped put the Polish city of Katowice on the global esports map. Considered one of the most legendary CS:GO tournaments, Katowice has grown from a small event into a city-wide celebration of the game. Each edition includes a post-CS:GO tournament conference and other events.
• IEM Cologne:Like IEM Katowice, IEM Cologne is arguably an even more important CS:GO tournament, but for different reasons. ESL, which runs the IEM tournament series, is based in Cologne, and the tournament has become a symbol of the development of both ESL and the CS:GO scene.
• IEM Chengdu:In 2024, IEM returns to Chengdu, China’s emerging esports hub, with the support of Acer. The tournament will take place at the Chengdu Wulianxi Performing Arts Center, with 16 teams competing for a total prize pool of $250,000. The event is scheduled for April 8-14, with the playoffs taking place on April 12-14. Coming soon after IEM Katowice 2024 ended in February, a win in the Counter-Strike 2 tournament at IEM Chengdu would be another step forward in the race to the Intel Grand Slam. So far, FaZe Clan, MOUZ, G2, ENCE and Vitality have the title on their account.

ESL Pro League

One of the oldest Counter-Strike leagues in the world, the ESL Pro League has been around since 2015 and is a quasi-franchise: 15 partner teams are supported by 17 qualified teams for the duration of a season that lasts about a month.

Cultural impact of Counter Strike

What makes Counter-Strike a major esports title is its community, which has helped the game grow into a competitive gaming giant since its initial release. Counter-Strike is a platform that encourages creativity and community participation, as evidenced by the thriving world of community mods, where players and developers come together to create and share user-generated content that enriches the gaming experience.

Custom maps

Counter-Strike fans have created a large collection of custom maps that range from small, intense battlefields to vast, intricately designed environments. Community mappers draw inspiration from a variety of sources to create unique environments that transport players to different worlds, from ancient temples to futuristic sci-fi bases.

Player-Created skins

Weapon skins have become an iconic expression of personality and status in Counter-Strike. Player-created skins range from realistic, dark designs to playful, colorful patterns. Some skins pay homage to pop culture and include references to movies, games, and memes, while others boast stunning graphics and intricate detail. We wrote about the most expensive skins in CS:GO and Counter-Strike 2 last year.

Unique game modes

Community mods offer a selection of alternative game modes that differ from the official competitive modes. One of the most popular community game modes is Surfing, where players glide down a slope to control their movement and reach incredible speeds. Another game mode mod is Zombie Escape, where players must team up to survive waves of zombies and reach a specific escape point.

Counter-Strike’s influence on online multiplayer gaming culture

Counter-Strike’s approach to competitive multiplayer was a refreshing change in a late ’90s world filled with fast-paced, cartoonish, heavy metal deathmatches. While slower-paced tactical shooters had been around before, Counter-Strike’s tweaks over multiple releases have focused on the core gameplay and how to keep it entertaining over the long term. The high skill level meant it always felt like there was room for improvement, and the lack of randomness made every action seem consequential and every victory worthwhile.

At its peak, there were roughly 1 million concurrent users playing CS:GO on Steam, a feat few games can boast, especially after nearly a decade on the market. Valve has continued to make small quality-of-life improvements to its fans while keeping the core that players love intact. This keeps the metagame consistent and makes the time investment in skill development worthwhile over the game’s lifespan.

There are many games that take inspiration from Counter-Strike. When Riot decided to enter the competitive shooter space with Valorant, they purposefully used Counter-Strike as a model to differentiate it from other hero-based shooters like Overwatch. The slow pace and careful aiming make it feel grounded despite the sci-fi elements. Other games employ asymmetric multiplayer strategy, forcing players to constantly change tactics between rounds.