Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is free-to-play for the weekend

The latest game using the Source engine has been the sequel to one of the most highly acclaimed and popular multiplayer games of all time – Counter Strike. The sequel, titled Counter Strike: Global Offensive, is available for everyone to play for free during the weekend, according to Rock Paper Shotgun.

Valve is holding the free weekend in celebration of the ESWC Finals that is taking place in Paris. Users will be able to play the game until 9 PM GMT, which translates to roughly 2:30 AM IST, for free. All you have to do is go to Steam and download the game.

Play for free over the weekend

One of the biggest aims of the newest iteration of Counter-Strike was to add more variety to the choice of weapons in the game. Veteran players will tell you that the only weapons worth buying in the original Counter-Strike, as well as Counter-Strike: Source were the M4A1 Assault Rifle, the AK-47, the Desert Eagle pistol, or the AWP Sniper Rifle. Developer Hidden Path has set out to change that with major rebalancing of the weapons as well as additions of new, more viable weapons.

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Back in August, Valve had released a trailer for the game made in the Source Film Maker, which was released in July. The trailer more-or-less works as an introduction to how the team-based tactical shooter works, without actually showing any gameplay. It shows two teams, terrorists and counter-terrorists. The terrorists attempt to plant a bomb to blow up a place and the counter-terrorists have been handed the task of stopping them.

The game is available for the Xbox 360 via XBLA, the PlayStation 3 via PSN and the PC via Steam. The price for the game on all three platforms is set to be $14.99 (around Rs 825).

The game features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.). In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.

“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,” said Valve’s Doug Lombardi. “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 CS’ award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac”.