Valve has released a free version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Fittingly dubbed the Free Edition, this version of Valve’s landmark competitive shooter hit the store yesterday.
But while the Bellevue company has made multiplayer titles fully free before, there are some caveats when it comes to CS:GO. Valve still want players to pay up for the full CS:GO experience, it appears.
Free Edition players are heavily restricted as to how they can play. For now, free players may only access offline bot matches against AI opponents. They can also spectate player matches, including Pro tournaments, through the game client.
That last part is a key part to take note of - the Free Edition launches just ahead of CS:GO’s Faceit Major: London 2018, and new players will be able to jump right in and spectate top-level play straight from the in-game spectator feature.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - Full Edition, as it’s been rebranded, still costs $14.99, for those who want to play against other human beings.