After months of waiting, Valve’s Counter Strike 2 was officially launched worldwide on Steam on September 28, 2023. Being a free upgrade to CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive), Counter-Strike 2 marks the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike’s history. Counter-Strike has been a prominent and influential title in India’s gaming landscape since the inception of the Esports industry in the country. The game has enjoyed immense popularity in India, consistently being one of the most-played and watched PC Esports titles in the country. The launch of CS2 is poised to be a Game-Changer for the Nation’s PC Gaming Landscape.
In regards to the launch of Counter Strike 2 aka CS2, Indian Esports industry stakeholders react on how the game will impact the country’s video-gaming landscape:
Mr Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF): “The highly-anticipated launch of Counter-Strike 2 in India is a significant development for our PC gaming community. ESFI has been witnessing the growth of the title in the country by sending the best Indian athletes to represent our country in CS:GO at the World Esports Championships in Counter-Strike for years. Notably, our nation achieved a historic milestone this year as our female team secured a place in the Asian qualifiers for the first time. With the introduction of Counter Strike 2, we see the potential for even greater achievements on the international stage.
With the right support from the game’s developer in terms of official tournaments, this game will not only provide the existing, leading players to maximize their potential but will also pave the way for fresh talent to emerge and showcase their skills. We believe that Counter Strike 2’s arrival will propel our country’s PC Esports scene to new heights.”
Devam “Dev” Vyas, Vice President: Esports at Gods Reign, a leading Indian esports organization“The unveiling of Counter-Strike 2 symbolizes a crucial metamorphosis for the Indian Esports domain. As we transition from Gods Reign’s robust legacy in CSGO to the CS2 chapter, we anticipate scaling unseen heights in CS2. I am profoundly invigorated by the game’s release—it’s a clarion call for us to redefine the dominance of India in Esports. We envision an era of greater triumphs in CS2, further elevating India’s standing in the global Esports arena.”
Mr. Rohit Agarwal, Founder & Director, Alpha Zegus, the next-gen marketing agency specializing in the domains of gaming & lifestyle:
“CS:GO was one of the most loved PC gaming titles to date, and CS2 is being received by the gaming community in an equally warm manner. We at Alpha Zegus manage some of the top PC gamers in India, and we have seen many of our creators express a lot of enthusiasm while playing CS2. I perceive CS2 as a strong title that will be an audience favorite in terms of both Esports and content creation because the initial response has been far better than expected.”
Mr. Sagar Nair, Co-founder, and CEO of Qlan, the Gamers’ Social Network: “Counter-Strike 2 has the potential to shape the trajectory of the PC Gaming industry in India for years to come. In order to cater to the huge player base of the game in India, we hope that Valve announces a well-structured roadmap for the title and allows additional third-party tournaments to develop the ecosystem of the title in the country.
This will open up new avenues of growth for Esports organizations, event organizers, and content creators operating within this thriving ecosystem. As a result, there will be an influx of sponsorships and partnerships within the gaming community, attracting more mainstream attention and further fueling the growth of the PC gaming industry. With Counter-Strike 2 enabling the empowerment of local talent, driving revenue growth, and creating a thriving ecosystem, the future of PC gaming in India looks bright.”
The game was launched on September 27 and it has topped the Steam player charts, peaking at over 1.3 million players. CS:GO from Valve was released in 2012, and 10 years later on May 6, 2023, the game recorded a new peak players record of 1,818,773 players on Steam.
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