Unlike other more futuristic games, CS: GO has a more grounded approach to its gameplay , relying on firearms based on real-world weapons. With no hero abilities, players need to trust their wit and quick fingers - getting weapons only via a Buy Menu before a match or picking them up from downed opponents. This straightforward approach makes CS: GO matches much faster and more accessible fun for newcom

It was always clear that Twitch's long history with gambling among its top streamers was eventually going to reach a climax, and this came recently with news regarding long-time streamer ItsSliker . Sliker began streaming on Twitch in 2019, quickly building up a commendable fan base via his networking with other streamers and unique commentary. Currently sitting at over 430,000 followers and once commanding thousands of concurrent Twitch subscribers, recent allegations surrounding the streamer have had a massive domino effect on the platform as a wh

Originally released in 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has built a massive Esports scene and has thousands of players online at any given time. For better or worse, it defined the childhoods of many modern gamers. Players cannot aim down sights, and the guns have set spray patterns rather than varying degrees of recoil. This creates a noticeable skill gap between newcomers and veterans, but what's worse is the commun

While the future for the game is bright, Counter-Strike is a franchise that loves to pay homage and respect to its roots. As such it is one of the few, if not the only game that has remained mechanically identical since its inception. This familiarity extends to the maps that for some have surpassed 20 years of active competitive play. So, the best way to pay respect to these maps is to rank the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has to of

This initial habit of breaking open these crates is incredibly useful, as doing so will often ensure that a team can wipe out any enemies in the surrounding area, which will award them money and give them a good start to the round. But it's important for players to remember the differences between the red supply crates that they see, as there are two kinds. The smaller ones can be opened without weapons (with fists), and the other, larger ones must be opened with melee weapons or guns, so it's important to look for the smaller crates first. Doing this will give a team a quick advantage and will definitely send them on their way to winning the ma

Ancient is, unfortunately, also quite CT-sided with many of the same sentiments for Vertigo being shared here. Many would argue it is worse on Vertigo, but the pro scene has shown how effective T-sides can be at the highest level. With that being said the map has seen a few minor changes since its introduction to improve this imbalance such as improving player visibility. Despite its early and current issues, it does fare well in pick rate in both professional and casual p

What started as a Counter-Strike 1.6 community map called de_cpl_strike created by Michael "BubkeZ" Hull, would eventually become the de_mirage known today when it was altered in 2004. Valve would later remake the map for the launch of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive . This version has been featured in every CS:GO Major Championships to date and has consistently been in the top 5 most played maps in both casual and professional play since 2

Following intense subsequent pressure from the community on what was already a longstanding controversy, Twitch has banned most forms of gambling from the service , with the aforementioned crypto-gambling giant Stake.com being a named company that is no longer welcome on the streaming platform. This is enormous news for the company considering just how popular gambling streams are on the service, with streamers and fans on both sides of the argument continuing in intense deb

Managing the looting, complex gunplay, and punishing feelings of losing everything make Tarkov a true grind for newcomers. Its incredibly high TTK and lack of kill cams can make deaths feel impossible to learn from. Newcomers hoping to stick with the game will have to find a way to learn though, because Escape From Tarkov never holds the player's h

Platforms: PC, Linux , macOS

Arguably the parent of Overwatch and its unique SLG game story guide modes, Team Fortress is a team shooter that remains popular to genre newcomers and pros years after its initial release . Players in a squad choose one out of nine classes, each with predetermined abilities and toolkits that can help achieve the mode's objectives. Matches can involve mechanics such as moving carts, protecting locations, or even stealing briefca

With his Twitch career falling to the wayside as a result, it is estimated that ItsSliker stole close to $200,000 from people within the Twitch community, sparking a huge flurry of debates surrounding the state of Twitch gambling and how it is ruining the platform. In the wake of these revelations, extremely influential streamers such as Pokimane took to Twitter to demand that Twitch ban gambling on the platform, with her tweet receiving over 300,000 li