Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Hidden Path Entertainment
August 21, 2012
Linux
September 23, 2014
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the sequel to Counter-Strike: Source, running on the CS:GO engine branch. Originally started as a port of Counter-Strike: Source for the Xbox 360, it was later expanded and eventually turned into a new Counter-Strike game.
Technology-wise, Cascaded Shadow Maps has been implemented, wherein outdoor lighting (which was previously handled by a light_environment entity and produced only static lighting) now casts harsh, directional shadow maps similar to env_projectedtexture.
The game was released on PC (Windows, Mac), Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with the Linux version later released in 2014. The console version received little to no updates, never received any major updates and had major differences compared to PC version, which received major updates and bug fixes until CS:GO was discontinued in favor of Counter-Strike 2, which is the successor to CS:GO. While Counter-Strike 2 ported assets from CS:GO to the Source 2 engine, Counter-Strike 2 also featured remake of CS:GO maps such as Inferno, and other features and some CS:GO maps were removed. Later in March 2026, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been re-listed on Steam (but marked as unlisted/hidden from search), allowing users to install CS:GO separately without having Counter-Strike 2 to be installed.
Development and Updates
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was released in August 21, 2012 on PC (Windows and Mac OS X), Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The console version received little to no updates and was quickly abandoned around early 2013 (before the Arms Deal update was released later that year, exclusive to PC), while the PC version received approximately 548 updates (including 17 major content update).
In August 14, 2013, a major update to CS:GO was released, named The Arms Deal Update. This update adds weapon skins to the game, skins are entirely cosmetic, and can be only brought in certain ways:
- Earn them through random drops by playing in online community and official servers.
- From opening containers, such as weapon cases or souvenir packages.
- Trade 10 skins of the same rarity for one of a higher rarity with a Trade Up Contract.
- Buying skins from the Steam Market.
- Trading with other players.
Other cosmetic items such as collectable pins, music kits, graffitis, gloves and agents were later introduced with later major updates to CS:GO.
The game was ported to Linux in September 23, 2014.
On December 6, 2018, the game became free-to-play and introduced a new battle royale game mode called "Danger Zone". This update also replaces the old Scaleform UI with Panorama, backported from Source 2 engine.
On September 27, 2023, the long-awaited sequel to CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 was released. It runs on Source 2 engine, featuring improved graphics, redesigned maps and improved gameplay. Counter-Strike 2 was released as a free update to CS:GO, replacing and moving it to a beta branch (csgo_legacy or csgo), initially called csgo_demo_viewer for viewing old CS:GO demos, but later renamed to "Legacy CS:GO Version", partially because Valve recognizing that some users are unable to run CS2 due to their hardware or operating systems are incompatible with the game, or because players want to have an option to play CS:GO even after the release of Counter-Strike 2.
Since the release of CS2, which has replaced CS:GO on Steam, the development of major updates for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been officially discontinued. Additionally, all of the game’s 147 achievements have been removed server-side. While the game is still playable by downloading the mentioned beta branch, as of January 1, 2024, CS:GO no longer receive security updates or bug fixes. This will likely leave the game vulnerable to remote code execution (RCE) exploits, other security risks, and unresolved bugs. With the launch of CS2, matchmaking servers for CS:GO have also been shut down, making the game playable only offline with bots, on community servers, or by connecting directly via IP address (using Developer Console).
Meanwhile, when it's come to console port, the Xbox 360 version was also discontinued early in March - June 2023 for unknown reason before the Xbox 360 Marketplace store shutdown in July 2024 (but demo version can still be playable). However, multiplayer are currently still functional on the Xbox 360 version. The servers for the PlayStation 3 version was also quietly shut down in 2018, but remains playable and can be purchased.
On March 3, 2026, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been re-listed on Steam Store, now located on separate AppID "4465480", while marking it as unlisted (hidden from searches). This means that CS:GO can now be installed separately, instead of having to install CS:GO alongside Counter-Strike 2. Matchmaking servers remains offline. The crash issues relating to Steam 64-bit update was also fixed. Unlike installing and launching CS:GO via Counter-Strike 2, the Community Server Browser option is completely broken as the game thinks Steam is in offline mode (in reality, the issue is likely caused by different AppID, as the game expects "730" instead of "4465480", causing server browser to fail).
Features
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has:
- FXAA anti-aliasing
- Simple post-processing effect aimed to remove jaggies on geometry and other objects at the cost of image quality, but are much faster than other anti-aliasing method, such as MSAA.
- FXAA can be also used with MSAA (such as 2X) at the same time. This benefits most lower-end PC that struggles to run MSAA 4X or higher, it also benefits models, transparent textures (especially those without alpha to coverage), and other objects that MSAA was unable to remove jaggies or staircase effect on them.
- Real-time dynamic shadows from skybox (Cascaded Shadow Maps)
- env_cascade_light provides dynamic, high-resolution cascade shadow mapping for the outdoor light of light_environment.
- Lightmapped Ambient Occlusion
- VRAD can now bake ambient occlusion into the lightmaps for a map, leading to enhanced realism.
- Bump mapped decals
- LightmappedGeneric decals now support bump maps.
- Scaleform (officially called Scaleform GFx)
- A vector graphics rendering engine used to display Adobe Flash-based UI and HUD for games. CS:GO uses Scaleform for the in-game HUDs and the main menu (until 2018).
- VPK version 2
- New version of VPK file format. Later backported to all Source 2013 games.
Newer Features
Later features introduced to CS:GO and the CS:GO engine branch.
- Phong reflections on Lightmapped materials
LightmappedGenericand WorldVertexTransition now support diffuse Phong reflections.- Texture streaming
- Reduce system RAM and graphics card VRAM by streaming textures.
- Vertex lighting for bumpmapped static props
- Static props with bump maps can now receive vertex lighting, better blending them into the environment. All static props also now receive better lighting.
- Anisotropic reflection emulation
- Brush shaders can now emulate anisotropic specular reflections using new parameters.
- Bump map blending for LightmappedGeneric
- Two bump maps can now be blended together for high-frequency and low-frequency bumpmap variation on the
LightmappedGenericshader. - Lightmapped_4WayBlend
- A displacement shader that can blend four different materials together by luminance.
- Prop combination
- VBSP now supports combining selected static props during map compilation, increasing performance and lowering draw calls.
- Increased engine and compiler limits
- The engine now supports more entities, more models and more displacements.
Note:Document all of the increased limits.- New first-person weapon lighting.
- First-person weapon view now support more detailed lighting.
- Static prop scaling
- Steam Datagram Relay
- Introduced in October 18, 2016. Todo: description
- 64-bit binaries (only in
, 
) - After Half-Life 2 was ported to 64-bit decades ago, then the 64-bit build was quickly discontinued due to instability and other issues at the time, the Source engine now natively supported 64-bit again, when Counter-Strike: Global Offensive received an update in May 25, 2016 for Mac and Linux (replacing 32-bit clients for those platforms). 64-bit allows the game to access more than 4GB RAM and have slightly better performance. The 64-bit update was not available for Windows however.
- HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) audio
- In December 7, 2016, HRTF audio processing was added to the CS:GO, which greatly improving 360-degree vertical and horizontal sound positioning—especially for headphone users. HRTF audio was powered by Steam Audio (previously known as Phonon3D).
- Audio System (DirectSound to XAudio2) (also in
) - In July 7, 2017, CS:GO quietly switched from DirectSound to XAudio2, when Valve implemented a option to switch audio devices. This also means that when the game freezes or stutters, it no longer loops the first .125 seconds of a sound repeatedly, instead sound effects will be paused abruptly, and (after Panorama update) the ambient sound along with music (in loading screen) will continue to play without any interruption. As DirectSound has been replaced with XAudio2, the
snd_legacy_surroundcommand was also been removed. - Panorama UI
- Introduced in 2018, replacing Scaleform, Valve's new Custom GUI interface that resembles modern web design and authoring (HTML5/CSS/JS). Using .XML and JavaScript files, developers can create dynamic and clean HUDs and menus and even high-quality in-game intractable panels.
- Direct3D 9Ex / Windows Aero DirectX Extensions (also in
, 
) - Introduced in April 2019 update, D3D9Ex improves performance depending on GPU hardware and drivers.
- Other improvements
- Todo: Document these, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
- Todo: Celisej: soon add more.
Limitations/Bugs
For the list of issues, see this page and GitHub Issues. Since Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is no longer being actively developed and has been replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (which relies on same GitHub bug report page as CS:GO), bugs report related to CS:GO will be marked as closed.
Content
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (
csgo)- Can be obtained in two ways:
- First method: Select
csgo_legacybeta branch in Counter-Strike 2, this will require 60GB free space (as CS2 is required to be installed alongside CS:GO Legacy). - Second method: Simply visit
CS:GO Steam store page and download the game there. You don't need CS2 to be installed, as this method install CS:GO separately.
Game modes
| Official Game Mode | Match length | Penalties for abandoning? |
Description of official Gameplay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Competitive
|
20-90 minutes | Yes | The classic game mode: Two teams of 5 players fight in a best of 30 rounds (Short Match: 16). In Bomb Defusal scenarios, Terrorists must plant a bomb at a target and defend it until it explodes - Counter-Terrorists must either stop them from planting or defuse the bomb before it detonates. In Hostage Rescue scenarios, Counter-Terrorists must find and escort a hostage - Terrorists must stop them. There are skill groups for ranked matchmaking so that ideally players are matched with enemies of a similar skill level. In unranked matchmaking, these skill groups are also regarded but not adjusted. |
|
Wingman | 10-30 minutes | Yes | Like Competitive, but adjusted for 2v2 and for a smaller map or a map section, best of 16 rounds, rounds are shorter. |
|
Casual | 10-20 minutes | No | Like Competitive but not binding ("casual"), with simplified and shortened gameplay: best of 15 rounds, shorter freezetime per round, no friendly fire, no team collision, free armor and free defuse kit/cutters. |
|
Deathmatch
|
10 minutes | No | This is a single 10 minute round with instant respawns. The player's goal is to eliminate as many enemies as possible with whatever weapon they wish to use. Weapons are free and only rifles, SMGs, heavy weapons, pistols and the Zeus x27 may be bought. Players have a short invulnerability period to buy weapons before moving. |
|
Danger Zone | 3-15 minutes | No | A Battle Royale mode played on big maps where players win by being the last man (or team) standing. The game starts with all players choosing an insertion point at which they rope down from a helicopter. There is a Danger Zone that starts from the map's borders and advances, making the playable area smaller and smaller and inflicting damage to players touching it. This game mode features numerous unique weapons and entities. |
| War Games | ||||
|
Arms Race | 5-10 minutes | No | This is a single extended round with instant respawn. All players start with the same weapon and get a new one each time they kill an enemy. The progression of unlocked weapons ends with the knife. The first player to get two kills with every weapon plus a kill with the golden knife wins the match. |
|
Demolition | 10-20 minutes | No | This is a fast paced mix of bomb planting and gun progression. There is no buying, you start with a rifle and if you get a kill that round, you get a progressively weaker weapon in the next round. Best of 20 rounds. |
|
Flying Scoutsman | 10-20 minutes | No | Like Casual but every player has a fixed loadout: A Scout and a knife. There is low gravity and no inaccuracy in mid-air, allowing higher and longer jumps and precise shooting, too. |
|
Retakes | 5-10 minutes | No | Each round, 3 Terrorists spawn on a bomb site with a bomb being planted and 4 CTs spawn at fixed locations around it. Each player can choose a loadout card at round start. |
Built-in Maps
Weapons
New weapons include: Molotov grenades, which create a pool of fire in the ground, Decoy grenades, which create fake weapon sounds, and a taser melee weapon, the Zeus x27.
Later update of CS:GO also introduced weapons such as R8 Revolver, and much more.
Since Arms Deal Update in 2013, skins are also available in most of these weapons and knifes. Some weapons and knifes may include StatTrak modules, which count how many times a player has been killed using that weapon.
Buy Menu
| Pistol | SMG | Heavy | Rifle | Equipment | Grenade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other
| Knives | Miscellaneous |  Danger Zone
|
Melee
|
 Co-op Strike
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Giving Weapons
To give yourself a weapon, you can use the cheat command give <entityname>, which should spawn a specified weapon inside the executing player, for example give weapon_awp. Knives and Danger Zone melees might instantly be removed by the game when they would spawn; To overcome this, one can use the command sequence give <entityname>; ent_fire <entityname> addoutput "classname weapon_knifegg" (in one line!) so that the entity "becomes" an entity that is not removed by the game in the same tick. Note that some weapons have a different classname after being given, e.g. give weapon_axe; ent_fire weapon_melee addoutput "classname weapon_knifegg".
Map driven item giving can be done with game_player_equip. To equip weapons using VScript, a game_player_equip entity can be created, used and removed.
Manipulating Weapons
Weapons can be manipulated via I/O, e.g. with ent_fire, and even more using VScript. All weapon entities support the inputs Kill, SetAmmoAmount <int>, SetReserveAmmoAmount <int>, ToggleCanBePickedUp, for example the command ent_fire weapon_ak47 kill removes all AK-47s in the map. To give some inspiration, if weapon is the VScript handle of a weapon entity, we can use weapon.Destroy() to kill it, weapon.GetOwner() == null to check whether it is dropped (true) or carried by a player (false), EntFireByHandle(weapon, "SetReserveAmmoAmount", "0", 0, null, null) to remove its reserve ammo and much more.
Note:When the weapon is killed that a player has deployed, their viewmodel will be broken until they deploy another weapon.
Tip:There are weapon classes whose entities initially have an identical classname keyvalue after being spawned, even though they were created from different classnames. This makes it impossible to target only one of these weapon classes in the I/O system such as MP5-SD and MP7 entities, because entities of both classes will have the classname "weapon_mp7" after being spawned, so firing I/O events to weapon_mp5sd won't have any effect because there is no entity with that classname. This problem can be bypassed in VScript: If we find an entity with the classname "weapon_mp7", we can identify whether it is actually an MP5-SD or an MP7 by checking whether entity.GetModelName() returns either "models/weapons/w_smg_mp5sd_dropped.mdl" or "models/weapons/w_smg_mp7_dropped.mdl". Other entities whose classname changes on spawn are the USP-S, CZ75-Auto, R8 Revolver, M4A1-S, Rescue Kit, Wrench, Hammer, Axe and all knives except weapon_knife and weapon_knifegg.System Requirements
Last updated: 9 Apr 2023
| Minimum: (?) | Recommended: (?) |
|---|---|
|
|
Note:Since the release of CS2 (in September 2023) and later when CS:GO was re-listed in March 2026, there are two ways to install CS:GO:
- First method:
csgo_legacybranch - You must have Counter-Strike 2 installed (which meant that you need to have 70GB free space to install CS:GO alongside CS2) then go to Steam Library, right click Counter-Strike 2 then Properties... > Betas > Set it to "csgo_legacy". Additionally, the old December 2012demo_viewerversion (for viewing demos before CS:GO Jan 9, 2013 update) of CS:GO is only available this way.
Game folder will be located in
<Steam folder/SteamLibrary>\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\ - Second method: Simply visit the new CS:GO Steam page and download the game this way. You do not need to install Counter-Strike 2 and switch beta branches.
Game folder will be located in<Steam folder/SteamLibrary>\steamapps\common\csgo legacy\
Note:These are unofficial system requirements, as the requirements from Steam Store page are now out of date as the latest version of CS:GO are more demanding to run.Note:The performance in this game mostly relies more on CPU (Processor) than GPU (Graphics card).Note:* Windows XP and Vista was originally supported by the game, however support for Steam for these operating systems has been dropped as of 2019, and CS:GO contains SteamWorks DRM (with the latest version of Steam API binaries (steam_api.dll) shipped with the game no longer compatible with XP/Vista), thus these operating systems are no longer supported from running CS:GO. Additionally, Steam also dropped support for Windows 7 - 8.1, but the game can be playable on these OS until the last version of Steam on these systems stops working in the future.Note:** Mac only: Support for 32-bit systems, and older versions of macOS/OS X, have been dropped.Gallery
You can see some screenshots from the game below. To see all screenshots and brand files, you can go to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gallery or category with all Counter-Strike: Global Offensive related files and pages.
References
External links
- Official site (Blog) (No longer updated) (Archive mirror)
Article about the game on Wikipedia
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