Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter played in rounds. Two teams, Terrorists (T) and Counter-Terrorists (CT), compete to complete objectives or eliminate the opposing team. The most common mode involves the Terrorists attempting to plant a C4 bomb at one of two designated sites (A or B), while the Counter-Terrorists must prevent the plant or defuse the bomb. Rounds are short, and there is no respawning until the next round.

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is the successor to CS:GO, built on the Source 2 engine. It features significant graphical upgrades, dynamic smoke grenades that interact with the environment (volumetric smoke), a 'sub-tick' server architecture for more precise movement and shooting, and revamped maps with better lighting and textures. CS2 replaced CS:GO as a free update on Steam.

The economy is a strategic pillar of Counter-Strike. Players earn in-game money by winning rounds, eliminating enemies, planting/defusing the bomb, or rescuing hostages. This money is used to buy weapons, armor, and utility (grenades) at the start of each round. Managing team economy—knowing when to 'save' (spend little) or 'buy' (spend fully)—is crucial for competitive success.

CS2 introduced 'Premier Mode' with a numerical CS Rating that ranks players on a global and regional leaderboard. There is also a traditional Skill Group system (Silver to Global Elite) for individual maps in Competitive mode. Wins increase your rating, while losses decrease it. The system considers match outcomes and individual performance to match players of similar skill levels.

Yes, Counter-Strike features a robust virtual economy where weapon skins can be bought and sold on the Steam Community Market and third-party sites. Skins are purely cosmetic and offer no gameplay advantage. However, due to scarcity, wear levels (float value), and rare patterns, some skins can be worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it one of the largest digital markets in gaming.

Yes, Counter-Strike 2 is free to play. Players can download and play the full game without cost. However, there is a 'Prime Status' upgrade available for purchase. Prime users are matched with other Prime users (reducing the likelihood of encountering cheaters) and are eligible to receive weekly item drops, weapon cases, and a visible skill rating.

The most iconic map is undoubtedly 'Dust II', known for its perfectly balanced four-square layout. Other legendary maps include 'Mirage' (a staple of competitive play), 'Inferno' (famous for its banana lane), and 'Nuke' (known for its verticality). Maps like 'Train', 'Overpass', and 'Vertigo' are also staples of the active duty pool used in tournaments.

Counter-Strike's longevity as a top eSport is due to its high skill ceiling, simple-to-understand but hard-to-master mechanics, and tactical depth. The 5v5 round-based format creates intense, watchable moments (clutches). Major tournaments (Majors) draw millions of viewers globally, supported by a massive legacy community dating back to 1999.

Counter-Strike began in 1999 as a fan-made mod for the game Half-Life, created by Minh 'Gooseman' Le and Jess Cliffe. Its popularity exploded, leading Valve to acquire the rights and hire the creators. It has since evolved through several iterations: Counter-Strike (1.6), Condition Zero, Source, Global Offensive (CS:GO), and now Counter-Strike 2, remaining the definitive tactical shooter for over two decades.

Valve uses VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) and the newer 'VAC Live' system to detect and ban cheaters. VAC Live aims to cancel matches in real-time if a cheater is detected. Additionally, the game relies on 'Trust Factor,' a system that matches players based on their likelihood of being legitimate, considering factors like account age, playtime, and reports.