When Did CSGO Come Out?
Complete Counter-Strike: Global Offensive history and timeline
Quick Answer
August 21, 2012
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive officially released on August 21, 2012 for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The game ran for 11 years before transitioning to Counter-Strike 2 on September 27, 2023.
CSGO Timeline
August 2011 - Beta Launch
Closed beta begins with limited players testing gameplay and mechanics
August 21, 2012 - Official Release
CSGO launches worldwide for $14.99 on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation
August 2013 - Arms Deal Update
First weapon skins introduced, launching CS economy and skin trading
December 2018 - Free-to-Play
CSGO becomes free, introducing Prime Status system
September 27, 2023 - CS2 Launch
Counter-Strike 2 replaces CSGO with new Source 2 engine
Major Milestones
Game Evolution
- • 2013: Weapon skins introduced
- • 2015: First Major with $250K prize
- • 2016: Glove skins added
- • 2018: Free-to-play launch
- • 2020: Peak 1.3M concurrent players
Transition to CS2
- • March 2023: CS2 beta announced
- • September 2023: CS2 release
- • All skins transferred to CS2
- • New Source 2 engine
- • Updated graphics & gameplay
CSGO Legacy
During its 11-year run, CSGO became one of the most successful esports ever:
- • 1.5 billion hours watched on Twitch
- • $135 million+ in tournament prize pools
- • 27 Major Championships held
- • Peak 1.3M concurrent players (April 2020)
- • $1 billion+ skin economy created
FAQ
When did CSGO officially release?
August 21, 2012 - CSGO launched on PC (Steam), Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 for $14.99.
Is CSGO still playable?
No, CSGO was replaced by Counter-Strike 2 on September 27, 2023. All players were automatically upgraded to CS2.
When did CSGO become free?
December 6, 2018 - CSGO became free-to-play while introducing Prime Status as a $14.99 upgrade.