Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is not only one of the most beloved video games of all time, but it’s also one of the most popular esports titles around. Since 2012, Valve’s first-person shooter has remained top of the pile in its respective genre. There’s been a shortage of contenders for the crown, but CS:GO shows no signs of losing favor, even if it’s looking a little rough around the edges.
Player Numbers
When it comes to player count, few games top Global Offensive’s stats. As of 2022, CS:GO brings in approximately 24 million active users every month. Although overall player numbers have dropped slightly in recent months, the peak player count holds steady at around 995,000. At its busiest, Global Offensive peaked at more than 1.3 million concurrent players.
Twitch Streamers
Since launching in 2011, Twitch has become the preferred platform for video game streamers. As of 2022, some of the most popular content creators on Twitch are streaming CS:GO content. ESL_CSGO is without doubt the most successful of the bunch, boasting peak viewing statistics of more than 509,000.
Individual players also perform well on the Twitch platform. Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev of Natus Vincere fame currently operates one of the most successful CSGO channels on Twitch, with more than 2 million followers. Even more impressive is Gaules, with the Portuguese streamer having amassed more than 3.3 million followers.
It’s a Staple of Esports Tournaments
The pro-level CSGO schedule is the backbone of the esports circuit. Since 2013, the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships have been one of the most lucrative engagements for professional players. It’s also been one of the most popular with audiences.
The PGL Stockholm 2021 stands as one of the most-viewed CS:GO events of all time. Bringing in an average of 593,000 viewers, the event peaked at a staggering 2.74 million viewers.
Professional Player Earnings
For those skilled enough to earn a place on a professional team roster, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive can also be incredibly lucrative. As of 2022, Danish player Peter ‘dupreeh’ Rasmussen is the most successful CS:GO player of all time as far as earnings are concerned. A firm fixture of Team Vitality, Rasmussen has amassed a fortune of more than $1.94 million. Trailing slightly behind is Andreas ‘Xyp9x’ Hojsleth. A fellow Dane, Hojsleth plays as part of the Astralis line-up and has pocketed more than $1.93 million in career earnings.
Meanwhile Nicolai ‘dev1ce’ Reedtz has secured $1.92 million in earnings, while Lukas ‘gla1ve’ Rossander has netted more than $1.78 million since joining the professional circuit. In fact, the top ten earning Global Offensive players have all become millionaires since starting their professional careers.
Most Successful Teams of All Time
Sometimes, a standout player can take a team to the top. However, most of the time, it’s very much a collaborative affair. When it comes to Counter-Strike, Fnatic stands as the most successful team of all time, having taken home 28 individual titles. Next up is Astralis. Compared to Fnatic, Astralis is a fairly new line-up, having secured their first major win at the 2013 Esports Championship Series. Rounding out the top three teams is Ninjas in Pyjamas. Established in 2000, this Swedish line-up is one of the oldest around. Although they’ve been supplanted by other teams in recent years, they’re still serious contenders who’ve come out on top at top-tier events like the Intel Extreme Masters and DreamHack Open.
