Counter-Strike
News, coverage and analysis tracking Counter-Strike across the outlets.
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“Open Time PC 1 Te!” Remembering the After-School Computer Shop Days
This article reflects on the nostalgic experience of playing games at internet cafes in the early 2010s, contrasting it with the current accessibility of mobile and online gaming. It highlights the social aspects, the routine of waiting for a PC, and the unique atmosphere of these gaming hubs as formative experiences for many gamers.
New Overwatch patch fixes one of its most annoying bugs, and introduces a CoD-style deathmatch mode
A new Overwatch patch has resolved an annoying bug that prevented players from jumping when the scoreboard was open. The update also introduces a new limited-time mode called 4v4 Evolved, a team deathmatch variant inspired by Call of Duty. Additionally, Ramattra's ultimate ability volume has been reduced.
"There was an arrogant assumption that players of shooters didn't want and wouldn't care about a story; we just didn't believe this": Go behind the scenes of Half-Life with legendary Valve designer Marc Laidlaw
Legendary Valve designer Marc Laidlaw discusses the development of Half-Life, revealing early concepts like 'Ivan the Space Biker' and the decision to delay release for a major redesign. He emphasizes Valve's belief that players desired story in shooters, a contrast to the prevailing industry assumption at the time. Laidlaw also touches on the game's technical achievements, innovative AI, and its lasting impact on the first-person shooter genre.
ARC Raiders’ blazing marathon is rapidly slowing down. Is it finally time to start worrying about its future?
ARC Raiders, an extraction shooter that initially saw significant player growth, is now experiencing a rapid decline in its player base, having lost approximately 80 percent of its community since its peak. Despite a recent update, player numbers have not recovered, leading to concerns about the game's long-term viability. While the developers at Embark Studios have time to implement new content, the current trend suggests a worrying future for the title.
Gaming Culture Debate: When Emotional Investment Goes Too Far
This article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding emotional investment in video games, arguing that such investment is a natural and even beneficial aspect of gaming culture, particularly in competitive scenes like esports. It posits that emotional engagement drives motivation, enhances team chemistry, and fuels the learning curve, comparing it to emotional investment in traditional sports. The piece concludes that effective channeling of this emotion is key to productive engagement.
World of Warcraft player housing was sorely lacking PvP so Blizzard is dropping its own version of prop hunt
Blizzard Entertainment is introducing a prop hunt mode to World of Warcraft's player housing system in patch 12.0.5. This new feature will allow players to disguise themselves as household objects to hide from others, adding a PvP element to the existing housing tools.
World of Warcraft gets a perfect recreation of Counter-Strike's most iconic map, and it's even got Goose
A World of Warcraft player has recreated the iconic Counter-Strike map Dust 2's A Site using the game's player housing system. The detailed build includes elements like the site marker, barrels, crates, and the famous goose. The creator noted the difficulty of the project due to spatial constraints and material limitations.
Creative World of Warcraft player uses housing tools to recreate Counter-Strike's iconic Dust 2 map, complete with a car made out of wood, doormats, and fruit plates
A creative World of Warcraft player has utilized the game's player housing tools to meticulously recreate the iconic Dust 2 map from Counter-Strike. The impressive build includes a notable car constructed from in-game items like wooden shelves, doormats, and fruit plates, showcasing the potential of Blizzard's housing system.
Age of Empires esports is very much alive, as London Wololo beats AO2 and 4 records
The Red Bull Wololo: Londinium tournament demonstrated the continued strength of Age of Empires esports, setting new viewership records for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires 4. The event featured a $250,000 prize pool and attracted thousands of viewers, proving the viability of strategy games within the competitive gaming landscape.
"Gabe really had a great vision": Steam became a PC gaming cornerstone because Valve built a community with "stickiness," says Nightdive chief who worked on GameStop's Steam competitor
Valve's Steam platform became a PC gaming cornerstone due to its focus on community building and accessibility for developers, according to Nightdive chief Larry Kuperman. Unlike early competitors, Steam fostered a 'sticky' ecosystem that encouraged player return and lowered the barrier to entry for indie developers, helping many stay in business.
Gabe Newell Reveals Why He Stepped Back from Valve Game Development After Portal 2
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell stepped back from hands-on game development after Portal 2 because his team's constant agreement stifled creative friction. He believed this was necessary to preserve the collaborative environment that fostered Valve's early innovative titles. While this decision explains Valve's shift towards being a platform and hardware company like Steam and the Steam Deck, it also leaves fans disappointed about the lack of new major single-player game releases.
An architect of GameStop's long-forgotten Steam competitor explains why he thinks Valve came out on top: 'What Steam did better than anybody else was to create a community'
Former Impulse storefront architect Larry Kuperman explains Valve's success with Steam, attributing it to superior community building and a more open platform for developers. He contrasts Steam's approach with early competitors like GameStop's Impulse and Paradox's GamersGate, highlighting Steam's ability to foster indie survival and facilitate the sale of third-party games.
Gabe Newell stepped back from game design during Portal 2's development, because 'he always wanted to be part of the team, but being Gabe and being in his position, that never really worked'
Valve CEO Gabe Newell stepped back from active game design during the development of Portal 2 because his position made it difficult to be a collaborative team member. While he was involved in earlier titles like Half-Life and spearheaded acquisitions, Newell realized his presence could stifle developer creativity. He now focuses on higher-level company strategy and other ventures.
Razer goes a step further than SteelSeries, offering five different speeds of its latest gaming mouse pad, and that's the kind of detail an FPS setup control freak like me wants
Razer has released its new Gigantus V2 Pro mouse pad, offering five different speed options compared to SteelSeries' previous three. The mouse pad utilizes proprietary GlideCore Foam with variations in density to achieve different friction levels, catering to specific gaming needs. The author argues that these nuanced differences in mouse pad technology can significantly impact aiming precision in various FPS titles.
Why Esports Professional Teams Are Investing in Content Creation and Streaming
Esports professional teams are increasingly investing in content creation and streaming as core business pillars, moving beyond a sole focus on tournament wins. This strategy helps maintain fan engagement between events, builds personality-driven loyalty, and creates new revenue streams through ads, merchandise, and sponsorships. By developing media brands rather than just rosters, teams aim for greater stability and reach, attracting a broader audience beyond hardcore competitive viewers.
Gamer Discovers Dad’s Incredible PC Gaming Legacy After His Passing
A Reddit user discovered their late father's extensive PC gaming library, which included classics like Doom, Half-Life, and SimCity. The user shared fond memories of their father, known as 'Mad Max,' playing these games and highlighted the importance of PC gaming's history and the generational connection it fostered.
Counter-Strike Got Its Name in an ICQ Chat 27 Years Ago Today
The name "Counter-Strike" was decided upon in an ICQ chat on March 15, 1999, by modders working on a Half-Life project. This simple decision led to the creation of one of the most enduring names in competitive gaming. The name perfectly reflects the game's tactical, skill-based gameplay, a principle that continues to define the franchise, including the current iteration, Counter-Strike 2.
Call Of Duty players are 66 times more likely to cheat than Battlefield 6 fans
A study by Surfshark reveals that Call Of Duty players are 66 times more likely to search for cheats than Battlefield players. The analysis, based on global search volume, also highlights Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege as games with high interest in cheating. The study suggests that robust anti-cheat software may deter players from searching for hacks, and warns that high search volumes for cheats can pose cybersecurity risks.
The best FPS games 2026: genre-defining shooters
This article lists and describes the best First-Person Shooter (FPS) games available on PC, highlighting their unique features and impact on the genre. It covers a range of titles from classics like Half-Life 2 and Quake to modern hits such as Valorant and Doom: The Dark Ages, also touching on upcoming releases.
15 Great Total-Conversion Mods To Make Your Old Games Feel Brand New
This article highlights 15 total-conversion mods that breathe new life into older PC games. These mods, created by amateur developers, can introduce new stories, worlds, or even act as sequels to beloved titles. Examples include Star Wars Genesis for Starfield, Enderal: Forgotten Stories for Skyrim, and Fallout London for Fallout 4.
