Valve’s gradual burn trolling of Counter-Strike followers continues with reveal of ‘CS2’ trademark
On: March 20, 2023
The Counter-Strike group has, for the final month or so, been satisfied that a miracle is on the horizon. Precisely what that miracle will probably be shouldn’t be but clear, however the perception in a brand new model of Counter-Strike: World Offensive utilizing Valve’s present Source 2 engine is robust, and equally so is the assumption in a complete new model of the game, Counter-Strike 2. I imply, it will really be Counter-Strike 5 or 6 relying on the way you rely them, however let’s run with it.
Valve actually appears to be doing so, and it seems like the primary piece of exhausting proof has dropped. On March 14, 2023 Valve was granted two logos for ‘CS2’ from the U.S. Patents Workplace. The primary is for the trademark on CS2 because it pertains to “Pc game software program, digital game software program, online game software program, [and] laptop game packages downloadable through the web.” The second is extra expansive in its definition, and within the inclusion of issues like “competitions” actually appears like the actual deal:
“Leisure providers, specifically, offering on-line video video games; provision of on-line leisure, specifically, on-line laptop video games; offering on-line laptop video games and on-line video video games; digital video games providers supplied by the use of the Web; offering data within the fields of laptop video games and leisure through the Web; group of competitions referring to video video games, online game schooling, and online game leisure; offering data within the subject of on-line laptop video games and on-line video video games and laptop video games.”
I am unsure what sort of schooling Counter-Strike gives however, to be truthful, I may most likely write a e-book specializing in my emotions about A protracted on Mud II (they will by no means anticipate it!).
The principle factor is that it is a public submitting by Valve and, up till this level, the ‘Counter-Strike 2’ rumours have come from data-miners discovering references that would level to the game in a Nvidia driver update and, final week, a complete slew of adjustments to the game’s Steam backend. The official Twitter account has additionally, fairly than posting something, simply been frequently altering the background in a well-judged piece of trolling. And whereas all of this is occurring, Counter-Strike: World Offensive is simply blithely smashing by way of all-time participant counts, setting a brand new report final week with 1.4 million concurrent gamers.
I’ve requested Valve for touch upon this earlier than, and I’ll ask once more, however let’s be actual. No matter this ‘Counter-Strike 2’ is—and it is wanting more and more seemingly after this it might be Counter-Strike 2—the Valve model now could be simply to shock launch it. It is all such a game, and sure components inside Valve are so clearly toying round with the group right here, that you simply nearly would not be stunned if it seems to be Half-Life 3 as an alternative.
