{"id":7134,"date":"2023-06-01T08:54:54","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T08:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thunderpick.gl\/blog\/?p=7134"},"modified":"2023-09-13T10:38:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T10:38:42","slug":"cs2-opportunities-for-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thunderpick.gl\/blog\/cs2-opportunities-for-players","title":{"rendered":"What CS2 opportunities are in store for players and fans?<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll bring a ton of new features and maps to the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s incredibly exciting \u2014 and you can be a part of it, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what will the CS2 eSports ecosystem look like? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Counter-Strike in eSports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every gamer on the planet knows that the eSports industry is more popular than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not that long ago, people didn\u2019t take video games seriously as a \u2018sport\u2019. 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). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>, FaZe Clan<\/a>, Cloud9<\/a>, and Team Vitality<\/a> are part of the CS2 eSports system, which shows just how far the series has come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a whole, things are looking great in the ESL Pro League. Season 17 saw the ESL experience a peak viewership of 518,000 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Will CS2 Be Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the question that\u2019s currently on everyone\u2019s minds. There\u2019s a lot riding on the success of CS2, as it\u2019s ultimately going to dictate what happens to the Counter-Strike ecosystem moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the great news: There are some big new features and updates coming to CS2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n