Twitch have removed Global Offensive from their game list now, and renamed it to just Counter Strike

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Twitch have removed Global Offensive from their game list now, and renamed it to just Counter Strike.

That seemingly signaled that Counter-Strike 2 and with it a new generation of multiplayer FPS game would arrive on Wednesday, September 27. Either that, or suddenly everybody would be given access to what is still being called the CS2 beta, or CS2 limited test.

Now, something slightly mystical is happening. Twitch has removed CSGO from its library of games, and replaced it with something new. When searching for CSGO on Twitch, you no longer get the option to watch CSGO specifically. Instead, you have the Counter-Strike 2 limited test, Counter-Strike 1.6, and a new, generically named ‘Counter-Strike.’

Let’s roll back. Counter-Strike 2 was originally meant to launch in ‘summer 2023’ according to Valve. As of a week ago – Wednesday, September 20 to be precise – the Counter-Strike 2 release date seemed all but set in stone, as Valve shared a cryptic-but-not-so-cryptic post asking players “What are you doing next Wednesday?” That seemingly signaled that Counter-Strike 2 and with it a new generation of multiplayer FPS game would arrive on Wednesday, September 27. Either that, or suddenly everybody would be given access to what is still being called the CS2 beta, or CS2 limited test.

Twitch has now begun to get more laser-focused on these guidelines, and has issued a new edict that prohibits streamers from either promoting or being sponsored by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) skin gambling sites. Estimating the size of this grey industry is a near-impossible task, but it’s fair to say it is enormous, enormously popular, and has been a part of the CS:GO scene pretty much since Valve added skins (heck, I’ve gambled CS:GO skins in the past via sites that let you bet on tournament results). There are professional CS:GO players and teams sponsored by these outfits (such as G2 esports). 

Even if no-one knows exactly how big it is, the size of CS:GO skin gambling has made it an especial focus for those who believe gambling should have no place on Twitch. There is also the age factor: Because Twitch audiences skew young there is an argument that skin gambling content is effectively being advertised to minors.