'Counter Strike: Global Offensive' to Challenge 'Battlefield 3,' 'Modern Warfare 3' for Supremacy? [Video]

In the beginning, the battle was between EA’s "Battlefield 3" and Infinity Ward’s "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." Now both the companies are aware of the presence of an upcoming threat by the name of "Counter Strike: Global Offensive," a product of Valve.

Nothing much has been known about the game apart from the fact that its release is scheduled for early 2012 and it will be available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network and Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade.

“It’s an all-new game and it felt completely different on both days because they changed so much overnight,” posted Bastian Veiser, Product Manager for ESL, who was one of the first members to play "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive."

The game will run on an integrated version of the Source engine and will be console-friendly. CS: GO is also expected to arrive with classic contents old maps, characters and game modes, and will support matchmaking and leaderboards.

"'Counter-Strike' took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999," said Doug Lombardi at Valve. "For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

"Battlefield 3," which will use the Frostbite 2.0 engine built especially for the game, is scheduled for an October release, while Infinity Ward’s "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" is set for a November release.