Counter Strike: Global Offensive Confirmed For Early 2012 Release

As was previously rumored, Valve has just announced Counter Strike: Global Offensive, a first person shooter targeted for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam for early 2012. The game is is being developed by Valve, in cooperation with Seattle-based Hidden Path Entertainment. CS: GO will expand "upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched exactly 12 years ago."

CS: GO will feature new maps, characters, and weapons and will deliver updated version of classic Counter Strike content. CS: GO will also introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leaderboarders, and more.

"For the past 12 years, [Counter Strike] has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world," said Doug Lombardi, VP of Marketing at Valve. "CS: GO promises to expand on CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

As someone who loves bunny hopping and holding my own at Long A, I am over the moon excited about this game. Let's hope that Valve sticks to the Counter Strike 1.6 roots with CS: GO.

CS: GO will be playable at this year's PAX Prime and Eurogamer Expo 2011, so as we get more information surrounding the title we'll be sure to send it along.

Also, some of you may have seen this trailer for CS: GO, but know that it's a fake! It's the original trailer for Counter Strike Online, which was released in 2008!

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