CS:GO has returned to Steam — Valve has added a dedicated page for the game

The iconic CS:GO is now available again on Steam. A dedicated page for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been added to the service, allowing the game to now exist as a standalone app. This is the same build that was previously available as the csgo_legacy add-on for Counter-Strike 2. Essentially, Valve has simply moved the older version of the game into a separate client.

Legacy build

It can be downloaded directly through the Steam client. However, at the publisher’s request, the product is no longer displayed in the store or search results—the page is only accessible via a direct link.

Why was CS:GO made into a separate game?

A likely reason could be preparations for CS2’s transition to a new game coordinator.

Previously, CS:GO Legacy was launched via the CS2 launch parameters. If Valve changes the launcher, this method might no longer work. Creating a separate application for the Legacy version avoids technical issues after the update.

It’s worth noting that in one of the previous updates, Valve left a comment about CS2’s transition to a new game coordinator, but this line was subsequently removed from the update description.

Is it possible to play online?

Official support for CS:GO ended two years ago. Currently:

• The game can be installed and launched.
• There is no official matchmaking support.
• The game is only available with bots or in offline modes.

Thus, the return of CS:GO is more of a technical solution and an opportunity to preserve access to the historical version of the game than a full-fledged comeback to the esports scene.

Despite this, for many fans, the appearance of a separate Global Offensive page on Steam was pleasant nostalgic news.