Valve has officially terminated this eight-year-old Counter-Strike remake.

      **Valve**

      Classic Offensive, the well-loved community remake of Counter-Strike, is officially done for. The development team revealed this decision yesterday across several social media platforms, stating, “This decision follows abrupt actions by Valve that prevent us from releasing or continuing development on the project.”

      This project had been approved seven years ago on Steamworks and has been under development ever since. The team characterized it as “Re-balanced and revitalized, Classic Offensive is a tribute to the original vision of the game that started it all.” The game was submitted to Steam for review in October 2024, but it faced rejection in the following January. After directing their efforts toward updates via ModDB, Valve issued a Cease and Desist order.

      According to Valve, Classic Offensive would breach the “derivative content” stipulations of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. Valve’s action appears particularly unusual, especially for a platform that has historically supported modding communities. The company had previously released the full source code of Team Fortress 2 and was among the first to permit modders to earn revenue from their creations.

      The Classic Offensive team cautioned other modders, stating, “This situation has consequences that extend beyond our project, raising major concerns for the future of modding within Valve’s ecosystem. Modders should reassess their view of Valve: a company that reaps benefits from community creativity while retaining the power to shut down years of work without notice, even after following their established process that they can alter at any time.”

      In reaction to Valve’s ruling, the team has launched Classic-Offensive.net. This website aims to provide a full development timeline, credit everyone involved in the project, and preserve the game's trailer. It also promotes the tagline #AllowClassicOffensive, a rallying cry from fans wishing to see the project revived.

      **Counter-Strike 2 set to launch as a free CS:GO update this summer**

      Valve has formally announced Counter-Strike 2 and described many of the new systems that will be integrated into this free Source 2 upgrade for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Those eager to experience the game will either need a Limited Test invite from Valve or await its release this summer.

      After several leaks in March, Valve unveiled Counter-Strike 2 today, alongside three videos showcasing some of the new features that enhance the gameplay, which retains its classic feel. Notably, smoke grenades have been revamped to be more dynamic, with smoke interacting and reshaping in response to the surrounding environment, and all players observing the smoke in the same position. Moreover, Valve has adjusted the game’s tick rate to ensure Counter-Strike 2 more precisely reflects how players move and fire their weapons. Players will also have the option to transfer their full Global Offensive inventory into Counter-Strike 2.

      This new iteration of the Counter-Strike series is built on Valve's updated Source 2 game engine and boasts impressive visuals. This improved quality is particularly noticeable in Counter-Strike 2’s maps, which are categorized into three tiers: Touchstone maps, which are classic maps that only received lighting updates; Upgraded maps, which underwent significant visual enhancements thanks to Source 2’s physically-based rendering system; and Overhaul maps, which Valve has completely redesigned. Additionally, Valve plans to provide the tools for map-making to modders so they can create appealing mods for Counter-Strike 2.

      **Counter-Strike 2: Elevating the Experience**

      We first learned about Counter-Strike 2 earlier this month when a Game Profile for it appeared in the code of an Nvidia Driver update. This was followed by a report from Richard Lewis, who hinted at an upcoming announcement and confirmed the tick rate modifications. Now, the substantial upgrade to Global Offensive has been confirmed, and players are eagerly awaiting its launch. Limited Tests are set to occur before the official release, with Valve selecting players for early access through in-game invitations in Global Offensive.

      Counter-Strike 2 is scheduled for release on PC this summer.

      **Valve postpones Steam Deck to next year due to component shortages**

      Valve has announced that the Steam Deck has been delayed until February 2022, according to an email sent to those who reserved the portable device. The email expresses regret for the delay, attributing it to global supply chain disruptions and material shortages affecting both consoles and GPUs since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

      "Due to material shortages, components aren't reaching our manufacturing facilities in time for us to meet our initial launch dates," the email states. However, no details were provided for individuals wishing to purchase a Steam Deck without a reservation. The ongoing global supply chain challenges and issues with sourcing and manufacturing parts are likely to also delay the widespread availability of the handheld.

      **Is Borderlands 4 cross-platform?**

      There are only a select few games that can be deemed as enjoyable in co-op as the Borderlands series. Titles like Split Fiction come to mind, but there’s something unique about teaming up with friends