The Counter-Strike series began all the way back in 1999. In 2012, Counter-Strike became a household name after the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which is now considered a classic tactical first-person shooter. Flash forward to 2023, and Counter-Strike 2 is finally on the way.
After a decade of waiting, the highly anticipated sequel to CS: GO will be hitting Windows, macOS, and Linux in the summer. Fans are going wild about the release of CS2 because it’ll bring a ton of new features and maps to the table.
Most importantly of all, CS2 will lead to the creation of a brand-new CS Esports ecosystem. Provided that the game is a success, more competitive CS2 leagues and tournaments will emerge. On top of this, thousands of new people will start playing Counter-Strike for the first time. It’s incredibly exciting — and you can be a part of it, too.
So, what will the CS2 eSports ecosystem look like? Let’s find out.
History of Counter-Strike in eSports
Every gamer on the planet knows that the eSports industry is more popular than ever.
Not that long ago, people didn’t take video games seriously as a ‘sport’. Now, eSports events have millions of fans tuning in around the world to watch teams compete for huge cash prizes (which are sometimes in the $1 million+ range).
CS: GO was released in 2012 at just the right time, as this was when eSports were starting to pick up speed. Pretty quickly, the competitive CS: GO scene exploded, and lots of popular teams began to create their own CS: GO rosters. Today, the likes of Evil Geniuses, FaZe Clan, Cloud9, and Team Vitality are part of the CS2 eSports system, which shows just how far the series has come.
Most of the big CS: GO teams are part of the ESL Pro League, which is the biggest CS: GO eSports league in the world. Launched back in 2015, the ESL Pro League has gone on to become one of the most globally recognizable eSports leagues ever created, thanks to its remarkable levels of fan engagement. As of 2023, the ESL Pro League is based across 4 regions (Europe, Americas, Asia, and Oceania) and comprises 32 teams (including the above-mentioned names). Impressive, indeed.
As a whole, things are looking great in the ESL Pro League. Season 17 saw the ESL experience a peak viewership of 518,000 — which was pretty impressive for the brand. Best of all, this number will likely skyrocket in Season 18 (starting later this year), thanks to the highly anticipated release of CS2. Make no doubt about it; CS2 will shake up the pro Counter-Strike circuit like nothing before it.
What Will CS2 Be Like?
This is the question that’s currently on everyone’s minds. There’s a lot riding on the success of CS2, as it’s ultimately going to dictate what happens to the Counter-Strike ecosystem moving forward.
Here’s the great news: There are some big new features and updates coming to CS2.
This includes:
- Improved graphics
- Overhauled mechanics
- Updated guns and skins
- Updated and new CS2 maps
Best of all, CS2 will run on Valve’s Source 2 engine. This is great, as it means CS2 will be far superior to CS: GO in terms of overall performance and graphics — which is exactly what fans have been asking for.
Essentially, Valve is making Counter-Strike a game that modern players from new generations can enjoy as well as the old-school players that have been around since the early 2000s. The original Valve Source engine is outdated now, so the implementation of the Source 2 engine is a welcome addition to the game.
The CS2 beta is already out and we have prepared a list of the best CS2 settings to maximise your gameplay.
What Impact Will CS2 Have on eSports?
Because CS2 is going to put a fresh and modern twist on the Counter-Strike experience, it’s going to get a lot of attention. New players will be introduced to the game for the first time, and countless new tournaments will be held specifically based on CS2. This is going to send shockwaves through the eSports industry, as more eyes than ever before will be on the Counter-Strike franchise. If Valve delivers another classic, then CS2 might even be able to start competing with the likes of Fortnite in terms of monthly users.
Fresh attention to the Counter-Strike franchise also means new sponsorship and brand deals. Don’t be surprised when you see some of the biggest teams from the ESL Pro League start new sponsorship deals with popular brands, as this is almost guaranteed to happen throughout 2023 and 2024.
Collectively, CS2 will lead to:
- Thousands of new Counter-Strike players
- More Counter-Strike tournaments and leagues
- Exciting brand deals that’ll lead to more funds being pumped into the CS2 ecosystem
This is a Counter-Strike fan’s dream — and it’s finally becoming a reality. Strap tight because you won’t want to miss these events unfold over the coming years.
PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen Will Be the First CS2 Tournament
Since CS2 was announced in March 2023, fans have been speculating about what the first CS2 eSports event will be. After all, it’s going to be a historic moment — and people want to know the details about it!
Thankfully, the first CS2 eSports event has been confirmed: PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024. This event is less than a year away and will run from March 17 to March 31. Tickets have yet to go on sale yet, but they’ll be made available toward the end of 2023.
The PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen will be absolutely huge. Every team taking part will want to be the first-ever winners of a CS2 Major — so you can expect competition levels to be sky-high. In addition to this, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Copenhagen smash 1 million+ live streams on Twitch and YouTube, as even casual Counter-Strike fans will be eager to see the action that goes down.
Itching to start betting on CS2? We are too, and will be ready with some of the best CS2 odds as soon as CS2 tournaments are underway.
