Counter-Strike 2 is out, but why is it number 2?

Let's take a look at the Counter-Strike (CS) timeline and why Counter-Strike 2, actually is number 2 in the line

Written by Tomas Lyngen

Published: 04 Oct 2023

From mod to first party

Counter-Strike started out as a mod (modification) to Half Life and why the game was at one point know as Half-Life: Counter-Strike

It was created by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe in 1999 and bought by Valve in 2000, when it was transformed into a first party title from Valve

Counter-Strike timeline (Mainline)

Counter-Strike 1.0

Initial release: November 8, 2000
Version: 1.0

Counter-Strike 1.1

Initial release: March 13, 2001
Version: 1.1

Counter-Strike 1.2

Initial release: June 30, 2001
Version: 1.2

Counter-Strike 1.3

Initial release: September 12, 2001
Version: 1.3

Counter-Strike 1.4

Initial release: April 24, 2002
Version: 1.4

Counter-Strike 1.5

Initial release: June 12, 2002
Version: 1.5

Counter-Strike

Initial release: January 16, 2003
Version: 1.6
Counter-Strike is released on Steam for the first time and is often referred to as Counter-Strike 1.6 (CS 1.6)

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Initial release: March 23, 2004
Version: 1.7

Counter-Strike: Source

Initial release: October 7, 2004
Version: 1.8

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

Initial release: August 21, 2012
Version: 1.9

Counter-Strike 2

Initial release: September 27, 2023
Version: 2.0

Reason Counter-Strike 2 is 2.0

If you paid attention to the version count, you'd see Counter-Strike 2 is considered version 2.0. Meaning Counter-Strike 2 isn't considered the 2nd game, but the 2.0 version of the game (2 for short)