The Counter-Strike video game franchise has had a rich 25 year history. Since its original release in 1999 as a modification of the game Half-Life, it has become one of the most famous and culturally significant video game franchises of all time.
Counter-Strike is one of the leading esports games in the world, with an all time peak viewership of 2,748,434 in the 2021 PGL Stockholm Major. It also boasts the second largest total prize pool of $161 million, according to Esports Charts.
A tradable cosmetic weapon finishes, or skins, market also exists within the game. The total value of the market surpassed $4 billion in February 2025, according to Swap.gg.
Despite the success, Counter-Strike has faced many challenges, including widespread cheating. There are also many unregulated gambling websites based around CS’s skin market.
Mir Gossom 