Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) — a popular competitive team-based first-person shooter. The main ideology is the confrontation between two teams, namely terrorists against counter-terrorists. At the beginning of each round, you need to choose one of the opposing sides and complete the map task or eliminate all opponents. By completing tasks or eliminating opponents, you earn money, which can be spent on purchasing weapons, ammunition, or equipment.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a multiplayer, competitive, team-based first-person shooter, a reincarnation of Counter-Strike: Source on an improved Valve engine. It was released for PC, Mac, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2012, but it is most popular on PC, where it receives regular updates, and esports tournaments are held.

The developers did not change the gameplay formula that had been working for years, but improved the network part, the matchmaking system, the equipment selection before the round, the visual part, added new and improved old maps. Global and regional leaderboards appeared.

The main changes affected the graphics: Global Offensive looks much more modern compared to Source. High-quality weapon and character models appeared, the lighting and shadow system was improved, the quality of effects was increased, the physical model was refined, and the sound matches the acoustic conditions.

Traditional maps have been carefully reworked, thanks to new textures and numerous new details, for example, metal frames appeared on wooden doors, making it difficult to shoot through, the length and width of overpasses and rooms were changed, and new passages were added.

There are 18 official and well-balanced maps in Global Offensive, but the community has made nearly 30,000 additional ones. The map on which the teams will play depends on the mode, 12 maps are included in the "Bomb Defusal" mode, and 4 in the "Hostage Rescue" mode.

Maps are divided into three groups: "active duty" (for tournaments), "reserve" (all other official ones but considered less balanced), and "operations", where missions for the community were held, and maps were selected from unofficial ones by modders and developers.

The war in Global Offensive is still between two factions — terrorists from America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and special forces from the USA, Britain, Germany, France, and Israel. There are no specialized classes, the player is free to choose the weapons and equipment that best suit their play style, and the difference is determined only by the appearance of the model and its voice-over.

Weapons and equipment are unique to each group but can have the same effect. The arsenal is divided into 5 slots. The first is occupied by the main weapon (shotgun, submachine gun, rifle, machine gun), the second by a pistol, the third by a knife; the fourth by grenades of several types. The fifth slot is used by terrorists for the bomb, in the corresponding modes.

The gameplay formula has not changed — you need to choose one of the opposing sides and complete the map task or eliminate all opponents. Teams consist of 5 players. For killing enemies or completing objectives, you earn money that can be spent on new weapons, ammunition, body armor, or other equipment. There are also penalties: for friendly fire or killing hostages.

As before, victory or defeat depends on the player's skills, map knowledge, weapons, actions, and tactical choices. Teamwork plays a more crucial role than ever. The low entry threshold ensures popularity, but in a team with experienced players, Global Offensive reveals itself from a completely different side.

The winner in multiplayer is determined after 10 or more rounds, as each is quite swift. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive still stands on two main modes:

New modes have also appeared, based on the most popular mods:

The Global Offensive community is strongly tied to esports, with new teams forming from experienced amateurs with excellent in-game ratings. You need to play constantly to earn or maintain ranks that determine the balance between newbies and experienced players.

Professional tournaments and leagues use the so-called competitive mode, and the rules change to clearly determine the winner.

Unlike the regular mode, in competitive mode, rewards for kills and money limits are increased, you can buy more grenades, and you need to buy armor and helmets each round. Friendly fire cannot be disabled, and observing is more challenging. Players vote for maps from three groups—"frontline," "reserve," and "operations," available by a specific methodology.

CS:GO championships are held annually, but only Valve determines who will be the organizer of the next tournament, with the prize pool for the final being $1,000,000 but can be increased. Smaller competitions also have prize pools.

Team selection is conducted through minors—competitions for new teams from Asia, CIS, Europe, and America. Teams selected from minors meet at majors, where they clash with each other and with teams that made it to the playoffs of the previous championship. During the season, 40 to 56 teams participate, with the top 16 selected for the final.