Secrets of success: Counterstrike (pt. 1)

An analysis of Counterstrike's success over the past 20 years.

Introduction

Counterstrike is a game that I have a love/hate relationship with.

First, I hate the game because its release spelled the end of arena shooters, which was all I ever played back in the late 90s/early 2000s.

That said, I also respect the hell out of it for staying relevant for 20+ years, and now with the release of Counterstrike 2 upon us, Counterstrike is not only the most popular game on Steam but also more popular than ever.

The funny thing about Counterstrike is that it’s not exactly a complicated game design-wise, but here’s the thing: Counterstrike’s simplicity is only skin-deep—play it long enough and you’ll start to see that it offers way more than meets the eye.

From its high skill ceiling to its wide range of official and custom game modes, Counterstrike is a game that can keep you entertained for years and years.

And if you’re a developer or studio making a first-person shooter, understanding why Counterstrike is so popular should be a priority.

Why?

Well, wouldn’t it be great to make a first-person shooter that doesn’t need major updates every year to stay relevant or enjoyable to play? And wouldn’t it be great if that same game made you a ton of money for 20+ years and counting?  

Yea, that’s what I thought.

So, what exactly is the secret to Counterstrike’s success?

In short, I believe Counterstrike’s success comes to the following:

1.      It’s highly accessible

2.      It has a strong weapon skin economy

3.      It has a high skill ceiling

4.      It has a thriving Esports scene.

There’s much to discuss here, so this will be a multi-part series.

Part 1 (what you’re reading now) is just the intro; In part 2, we’ll discuss everything that makes Counterstrike accessible; In part 3, we’ll discuss everything else.

So, stay tuned!