Game designer Minh Le, who created the popular online shooter Counter-Strike, named the reason for the game's success. He is quoted by the publication GamesRadar.
Minh Le created Counter-Strike as a modification for the game Half-Life. Later, the developer of Half-Life, Valve studio, acquired the rights to the modification and unexpectedly offered the game designer to create a standalone game. Twenty-five years after the release of the original CS, Minh Le stated that it became successful due to skins — cosmetic items that change the appearance of weapons and gear.
"I think people play it just for collecting skins and all that stuff," Le admitted. According to him, Counter-Strike was conceived as a game where players could virtually fight against terrorism, but over the years, gamers' attitudes towards CS have changed.
Minh Le noted that Counter-Strike is now one of the most popular disciplines in esports, although he initially did not intend to create an online shooter. He mentioned that at the final stage of the game's development, an esports league contacted him and suggested adding an online mode to CS. "But I said, 'Don't bother me. I'm too busy developing. I don't have time to turn CS into an esports game,'" the developer remarked.
Previously, Counter-Strike 2 was named the best esports game by The Game Awards 2025. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was recognized as Game of the Year.
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