Valve confirmed that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will launch sometime this summer, although a specific month wasn’t mentioned.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s public release will arrive with new and updated maps, new gameplay modes, leaderboards and more.
Global Offensive is being developed for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, making it the first game in the multiplayer series to be released simultaneously on PC and consoles.
Speaking to Joystiq, Valve’s Chet Faliszek said the decision was made based on lessons gathered from the beta. He said that linking platforms could impact Valve’s ability to constantly update CS:GO, so it ditched the functionality.
“The beta has proved we want to update not just the beta, but the game itself post-launch frequently on the PC,” Faliszek said. “To do that, we need to separate the platforms so one doesn’t hamstring the other. So for that, we have removed the idea of cross-platform play – essentially make all platforms stronger by not mixing them.”
The original idea was to allow PC gamers, Mac gamers and PlayStation 3 owners to battle each other online instead of locking the console players strictly to Sony’s PlayStation Network. PC and Mac gamers wouldn’t have the upper hand because the PlayStation 3 supports both a USB-based keyboard and mouse, thereby guaranteeing a level playing field for both crowds on the controller front, at least.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is out this summer for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC/Mac.
What do you think of Valve’s decision to remove cross platform play?
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