[UPDATED] News: New Counter-Strike CONFIRMED

Update: Sure enough, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been confirmed. Global Offensive will feature new maps, characters and weapons as well as updated classic contents such as perennial favourite de_dust.


Furthermore the game will feature matchmaking, leaderboards, new gameplay modes. Interestingly the title will be available on Mac and PC via Steam, but for the 360 and PS3 won't be a boxed title, being available instead on PSN and Xbox Live Arcade.


Doug Lombardi, Valve marketing director, said 

"Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999... For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on the CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will be released in early 2012.

Original Article:

Evidence is mounting that suggests a new Counter-Strike title is imminent. As well as original Counter-Strike developer Jess Cliffe writing on the Steam forums the words "Global Offensive", the E-Sports Entertainment's Facebook page contains the message "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive... More info in the morning". 

A Q1 2012 release is purported as is an updated Source engine and an increased emphasis on 5 vs 5 gameplay (particularly relevant considering the mention on the E-Sports Entertainment page).

Although both Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Source have committed communities with the games' servers still performing well, a new release would certainly help bolster Counter-Strike's still-noticable but shrinking presence in the e-sports scene.

[Source: ESEA, Eurogamer]