The big news over the weekend: Counter-Strike — the quintessential team-based shooter mod — is coming back for PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Mac! Valve says it’s targeting a 2012 release complete with new and updated maps, characters and weapons. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve learned so far.
Valve has been running some CS: GO playtests with pro gamers, and early word includes:
- Weapons: New arms include a new heavy machine gun rifle, pistol, and shotgun. Valve may also be looking at making less popular weapons like shotguns and pistols more viable situational purchases. Valve is also apparently experimenting with new grenade options, including a Molotov cocktail and decoy grenade.
- Visuals: Reportedly based on updated version of the Source engine. Pro gamers are saying that graphics are sharper, animations smoother, etc.
- Gameplay: Inclusion of both casual and competitive games types. Pro players say the pre-beta feels distinct to previous Counter-strike outings, but they’re very happy with the movement.
- Development: Co-developed by Valve and Hidden Path, the same crew who worked on CS: Source. It will be released via PSN, XBLA and Steam (PC and Mac).
- What’s Next: It’s likely that we’ll see playable footage coming out of the PAX Prime and Eurogamer Expos in late August and September, respectively. It’s looking like we’ll see CS: GO before Half-Life 3.
Full details from pro gamer Craig ‘Torbull’ Levine over at [ESEA New via Kotaku and Valve]
CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.). In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.
“Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999,” said Doug Lombardi at Valve. “For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on CS’ award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac.”
Muhammad
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 4:39 PMwho cares about the mac platform though – serious gamers are windows users.
[doa]
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 5:24 PMThe mac’s taking it’s time, but it’s getting there with traditional PC titles. After all, less time spent making my computer actually run reliably is more time actually playing.
I’d be more worried about the long time commitment to a non-MS published game on the 360 such as TF2.
willmoney
Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 8:56 AMI hate this false sense of security that mac users STILL HAVE. get over your high priced garbage. we know its made in china. i know my parts were made overseas but it was assembled in my damn bedroom in about 20min and smokes your ass all day.
Sam Sweeney
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 5:54 PMJust because you happen to use a mac does not mean you are not a gamer.
xy
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 6:47 PMyeh,it means you’re a noob
Joel
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 6:17 PMSerious gamers are interested in what the article is about.. not trolling.
Sam D
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 7:25 PMWouldn’t serious gamers be reading this on Kotaku rather than Gizmodo?
Joel
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 7:52 PMTouché
Rhys
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 8:02 AMUnless Kotaku is blocked at work but Gizmodo isn’t. Thus how I’m finding out.
I’m so keen btw, hope its good on ps3, but at the same time ill buy it on steam as well. Wonder what this mean for CSS Beta?
Morkai
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 4:40 PM“It’s also possible that we’ll see CS: GO before Half-Life 3.”
i’d think that (however unfortunate) goes without saying.
John
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 4:44 PMwell they have got cs out of the way. next probably l4d3 then they will probably release hl3/ep3
Callum
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 6:37 PMIt’ll probably be L4D3, Portal 3 and 1 Billion other release’s before we see some footage of it. I suggest you just watch Half-Life 2 get reworked by someone into the new engine then play that, it’ll be close enough
Peter
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 6:38 PMMacs are rubbish at running games. The drivers are not as good in OSX as Windows for games, period. No one plays games on Mac, and anything you can do on a Mac anyway can be done better with Windows, not to mention Macs don’t have half the software available to Windows users. Macs always feel limited because of the lack of software in comparision to Windows. People just like Macs as they listen to Apple’s marketing too much. My few cents worth…
Adam
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 7:18 PMWho cares? if you don’t like mac don’t use mac, this whole fanboy thing is for 12 year olds.
Adz
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 2:42 PM@Adam i agree, it is for 12 year olds this whole ‘mac’ ‘windows’ business. Seriously if you don’t like macs then don’t buy nor comment on one. At the end of the day they all have the same internals regardless of which OS can run certain softwares so seriously, grow up everyone!!
Jack
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 8:57 AMMy friend bought a Mac because he is not good at pcs and he will also feel “popular” If that’s the right term, because other people have mac laptops and they’re expensive.
I explained it all out to him, and he said he wanted the more expensive less powerfull/extremely easy to use….MAC.
They’re good for dome people… That like to waste money.
Azza
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 9:50 AMThank God. I was always good at CS, and sucked at CoD multiplayer.