Counter-Strike history
The history of Counter-Strike and the CS:GO era, from a site that covered it in 2011.
CS:GO
2012–2023
CS:GOVideo
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive launch: the road to Aug. 21, 2012
How CS:GO got from beta to its Aug. 21, 2012, Steam launch: the June date and price announcement, pre-purchase and the final beta week.
By CSgoFriends
CS:GOVideo
How Valve announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Aug. 12, 2011
Valve announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Aug. 12, 2011. Here is what the company said, what early players reported and how it was framed.
By CSgoFriends
CS:GOVideo
CS:GO's first map pool: how the 16 planned launch maps took shape in 2011-2012
How the original Counter-Strike: Global Offensive map pool came together from an August 2011 report to Valve's April 2012 beta updates.
By CSgoFriends
CS:GOVideo
CS:GO beta: the 2011 stress test, the delay and the 2012 key waves
Valve opened the CS:GO closed beta on Nov. 30, 2011, with two maps and one mode, then widened access through key waves and a survey in early 2012.
By CSgoFriends
Counter-Strike 2
2023–
Counter-Strike 2
From CS:GO to CS2: how Counter-Strike moved to Source 2 in 2023
How CS:GO became Counter-Strike 2 in 2023: the March announcement, the Limited Test, the Sept. 27 launch and what carried over or was cut.
By CSgoFriends