When Did CS:GO Become Free to Play? Complete Timeline & Details
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) became free-to-play on December 6, 2018. This major shift came alongside the introduction of a new battle royale game mode called "Danger Zone."
Prior to becoming free, CS:GO cost $14.99. When Valve made this change, they automatically upgraded all existing players who had purchased the game to "Prime Status." This was their way of acknowledging the investment of long-time players while transitioning to a free-to-play model.
Prime Status became the new paid tier of CS:GO, available for $14.99 - the same price as the original game. Players who want Prime Status can either purchase it directly or reach Level 21 by playing the game. This status offers several benefits:
- Access to Prime-exclusive matchmaking - Extra items, item drops, and weapon cases - Eligible for Prime-exclusive souvenir items - Ability to earn experience points and skill group rankings
The free version of CS:GO gives players access to:
- All casual and competitive game modes - Community servers - The new Danger Zone battle royale mode - Basic weapon drops and cases
This change significantly impacted the game's player base, with Steam charts showing a massive increase in active players following the free-to-play announcement. The game reached over 20 million monthly active players, a record at that time.
The decision to make CS:GO free aligned with industry trends, as many competitive multiplayer games had already adopted the free-to-play model with optional premium features. This move helped CS:GO maintain its position as one of the most popular competitive shooters in the world.
It's worth noting that while the game is free, Valve maintains its revenue through in-game purchases, including weapon skins, operation passes, and the Prime Status upgrade. This business model has proven successful, as CS:GO continues to be one of Steam's most played games years after becoming free-to-play.