The official Counter-Strike: Global Offensive launch trailer has been turned loose on the tubes.
Valve announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive earlier this month as a multi-platform update to the venerable Counter-Strike, the team-based online shooter that PC gamers have been enjoying since 1999. The latest and greatest version of the game will add new modes of play, new weapons, more maps and improved visuals on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Cross-platform play will also be supported, although due to difficulties in bringing Steamworks to the Xbox 360 it’s currently limited to the PC, PlayStation 3 and Mac, and to ensure that console gamers don’t get repeatedly whomped by the sharp reflexes and pinpoint precision of Team PC, the PS3 version of the game will support mouse and keyboard setups as well as the standard game controller.
Valve obviously isn’t reinventing the wheel here but given the game’s remarkable longevity, a little polish and a coat of paint is probably all it needs for a successful multi-platform release anyway. There’s no disputing its popularity among PC gamers – Valve claims the series has already sold 25 million copies – but it’ll be fun to see how it fares in a console market dominated by franchises like Call of Duty and Halo. If the Xbox 360 can be brought under the cross-platform tent, I’ll expect very big things indeed.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is expected to be out in early 2012 but since this is Valve we’re talking about, you might want to mark that on your calendar with a pencil.
