Counter-Strike Co-Creator Praises Valve for Preserving its Legacy

Minh "Gooseman" Le, a co-creator of the iconic Counter-Strike franchise, recently expressed his satisfaction with Valve's stewardship of the game. In a celebratory interview with Spillhistorie.no marking Counter-Strike's 25th anniversary, Le reflected on the game's journey and his decision to sell the IP to Valve.

Le lauded Valve's efforts in upholding Counter-Strike's legacy, stating, "I'm happy with how things turned out with Valve. They've done a fantastic job maintaining the CS legacy." He acknowledged the challenges of the transition to Steam, recalling initial stability issues that impacted player access. However, he highlighted the invaluable support of the community in navigating these technical hurdles, smoothing the transition.

Le's journey began in 1998 as an undergraduate student developing Counter-Strike as a Half-Life mod. Inspired by classic arcade games like Virtua Cop and Time Crisis, along with action films such as John Woo's works and Hollywood titles like Heat, Ronin, and Air Force One, he laid the foundation for one of the most influential first-person shooters. Jess Cliffe joined the project in 1999, contributing to map development.

Twenty-five years later, Counter-Strike's enduring popularity is undeniable, with Counter-Strike 2 boasting a monthly player base nearing 25 million. Le's gratitude towards Valve extends beyond the preservation of his creation; he values the professional development he gained from collaborating with top-tier game developers at Valve. He concluded by expressing his humility and appreciation for the opportunity.