Instead of finally announcing Half-Life 3, Valve has confirmed suspicions something was up with the Counter-Strike franchise the studio has left alone for a few years now.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a brand-new installment being developed in conjunction with Hidden Path Entertainment, the developers behind Defense Grid.

It's been 12 years since Counter-Strike first burst onto the scene as a Half-Life mod, but it returns early next year on PC, Mac, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network (yes, consoles--cue the angry PC crowd!).

If you're at the Penny Arcade Expo later this month, though, you'll get to play it far ahead of release.

Valve hasn't released any screen shots of the game yet, only the logo. The studio said Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will feature "new maps, characters, and weapons," "updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.)," and "new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more."

A downloadable shooter from Valve? Count us in.

Instead of finally announcing Half-Life 3, Valve has confirmed suspicions something was up with the Counter-Strike franchise the studio has left alone for a few years now.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a brand-new installment being developed in conjunction with Hidden Path Entertainment, the developers behind Defense Grid.

It's been 12 years since Counter-Strike first burst onto the scene as a Half-Life mod, but it returns early next year on PC, Mac, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network (yes, consoles--cue the angry PC crowd!).

If you're at the Penny Arcade Expo later this month, though, you'll get to play it far ahead of release.

Valve hasn't released any screen shots of the game yet, only the logo. The studio said Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will feature "new maps, characters, and weapons," "updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.)," and "new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more."

A downloadable shooter from Valve? Count us in.

Woooo! More Counter Strike!

If this is like an updated 1.6 instead of CSS this will be awesome.

OMFG I HOPE THIS TURNS OUT, COUNTER-STRIKE RULES!

inb4 shitstorm

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I literally could not be more excited for this. Counter Strike is still the best tactical shooter in existence. An updated version is just what was necessary to get people hooked again (although since 1.6 and CSS are still the two most played games on PC, they didn't really need an update).

Free? If it's free and has bots I'll download it.

Dude. Awesome.

@avidwriter: yeah microsoft is going to release a free title on arcade....

Hats?

Gotta continue to rehash the same maps over and over. Then again, that's just what people who are still playing CS are likely to want. We'll see if this turns out.

I didn't see that coming. Still awesome though, love Counter-Strike.

awwww yeah. Bomb planted on b2! Hope you remembered to buy your deff kitt

Excited!

Now everyone can move on from Team Fortress 2, thank god.

You guys, it's 'Offensive', not 'Initiative'. Hence G.O.

Awesome.

Global Initiative? That's not what it's called. It's Global Offensive, thus 'GO'

If this is like an updated 1.6 instead of CSS this will be awesome.

WOOO!!!! Turn Counter-Strike to another dumbed down slow shitfest FPS for the console mouthbreathers. 
 If you think this won't be another snail-pace aim-assist ironsights shit console FPS guess again. You can't play a game like Quake or Counter-Strike on pads. 
Way to rape a classic Valve!

Man, this sounds amazing! Some day my dream of PC players creating and running custom servers for everyone, including console gamers, to play on will be a reality! Console gamers need to see what they're missing every now and then.

I think Counterstrike is utter shit but a modern version could have potential.

Oh boy. I can just imagine the silly rage this could potentially stir up.

I'm interested to see how this turns out, though. Probably not going to play it, since I'm not into many FPSes anymore, but we'll see.

I'd be willing to try an updated CS. I don't think I'll ever get into CS:S again anyway.

sounds alright. i wounder if it's going to be any good like source one.

wasn't expecting another counter strike any time soon

HOLY SHIT YEEEEEEESSSSSSSS 
 
Edit:  This could be the game I was waiting for.  I could see myself getting sucked into a straight up shooter like this, similar to Halo 2. 
 
Also, I'll be playing this on my PS3.  FUCK THE HATERS.

@AlwaysBeClothing said:

Gotta continue to rehash the same maps over and over. Then again, that's just what people who are still playing CS are likely to want. We'll see if this turns out.

I'm going to assume that just because they mentioned revamping some older content (like the most classic of all FPS maps, de_dust) does not mean that there will not be any new maps at all.

I'm really excited about this. A new entry in the franchise will get myself and thousands of others back in the game again, even though I've been out of CS:S for quite a while now.

dammit i haven't finished getting all the CSS achievements yet! i earned them all 6 times over circa 1999

Fire in the Hole!

The article is very misleading. This is basically an update of CS:S, with new maps, weapons, and characters, and gamemode. I dont think they are treating it as a full new CS game as they are a expansion pack type deal.

@Buckfitches said:

Excited!

Now everyone can move on from Team Fortress 2, thank god.

Good joke, since they're completely different games.

It is Global Offensive not Global Initiative....

Really hope it's not like that crappy console crossover they made years ago. 
 
But a new CS will def bring back to playing it 

Didn't realize how excited I was for this till the announcement. Can't wait to see gameplay footage

Who in the PC crowd is angry? Valve games have been on consoles for ages and no one complained then.

Waiting to see what it looks like.

The fact that it's on consoles worries me, but at this point everything is on consoles.... But as far as I'm concerned the more CS the better!!!

Fucking A! About time we had a new CS! I do find it hilarious how we STILL haven't had a HL3/HL2:E3 announcement.

WOOO!!!! Turn Counter-Strike to another dumbed down slow shitfest FPS for the console mouthbreathers.  If you think this won't be another snail-pace aim-assist ironsights shit console FPS guess again. You can't play a game like Quake or Counter-Strike on pads. Way to rape a classic Valve!

@Buckfitches said:

Excited!

Now everyone can move on from Team Fortress 2, thank god.

What do Counter Strike and Team Fortress have to do with each other?

@Phonics said:

WOOO!!!! Turn Counter-Strike to another dumbed down slow shitfest FPS for the console mouthbreathers. If you think this won't be another snail-pace aim-assist ironsights shit console FPS guess again. You can't play a game like Quake or Counter-Strike on pads. Way to rape a classic Valve!

Playtesters have already confirmed no aim-assist, ironsights, or regenerating health.

GOOSEMAN

Naturally, I put in the wrong title and the site goes down at the same time.

"A downloadable shooter from Valve? Count us in"
 
Pretty sure every game they've made since Half-Life 2 has been a downloadable shooter Klepek.

Super excited for this, having played CS since 1.6. Not sure how it'll play on consoles though, considering Counter-Strike is one of those games that you kind of need a mouse and keyboard for.

They should make scoutsknives an official map.

Enemy down!

Should be cool, I wonder if the PS3 version will run Steam like Portal 2 did. And if so, could we see PS3 vs PC games?

(yes, consoles--cue the angry PC crowd!). Got to love console turds trolling.