CS:GO (Counter Strike: Global Offensive) is a multiplayer shooter that’s known for its competitive gaming scene. Developed by Valve and Hidden Path, it’s one of the most well-known series in the shooter genre and now it’s free. Of course, there’s a catch.

For anyone looking to start on the addictive journey of enjoying CS:GO, the free version is the way to go. It allows prospective community members to experiment with the gameplay mechanics, maps, and interface before diving in to the full version. With that said, only the basic features are available – offline play against bots and match spectating via GOTV. In other words, if you want the true Counter Strike experience, you’ll still need to purchase it in its entirety.

After 14 years of a player-driven community, Valve now offers it for free for those looking to get in on the action as opposed to the full version at a price tag of $14.99 (USD). It goes without saying that there are voices out there that don’t necessarily agree with the developers opinion release a free edition. However, there’s not much for the community to lose out on since it doesn’t allow online participation. To get started, check out the official Steam page here.

What do you think about Valve offering a free version of CS:GO – was it a good idea or a bad one? Is this a game worth making free or should they retract this release? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or start a conversation on DFTG Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming news as it happens, follow us on Twitter! Here’s some of our latest:

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Counter Strike: Global Offensive is available now for PC, Xbox One, and several other previous generation platforms.