Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is officially free-to-play on PC and Mac, and a new, smaller scale battle royale mode has been added. This new mode is called “Danger Zone” and it will bundled with the game in it’s free-to-play variant. And no, there’s no highway to this place.
The mode itself is a pretty standard, albeit smaller, Battle Royale mode. Up to 16 players (18 players in group queued matches) will duke it out free-for-all style on the “Blacksite” map. In terms of weapons, the typical arsenal of rifles, SMGs handguns and the like will be available to blast each other in the face with. You can queue for the mode as a solo player, or with up to three friends.
The gameplay consists of carrying out different tasks via contracts, hunting down loot safes and of course, blasting other players in the face. As you do these things, you earn cash which can be used to purchase better gear. Additionally, players will have access to a tablet that shows the map, upcoming deliveries, the positions of opponents, and where the “Danger Zone” is. According to Valve, players in the Danger Zone can have up to 120 HP to survive even deadlier encounters.
In terms of rewards for competing in this nuts new mode, players mostly earn special weapons and skins for use in-game. For a limited time, players can nab a MP5-SD | Lab Rats gun, and earn 17 rare weapons with skins designed by fans.
Of course, the launch of a previously paid game into the realm of F2P has angered some fans and gamers across the internet. No plans have currently been revealed to offer free bonuses to players who bought in, so it looks like you’re out of luck for the time being. Hopefull CS:GO doesn’t devolve into a den of hackers and toxic banter that some fans are forecasting as a result of the switch to F2P though.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players can try out Danger Zone right now on PC, Mac, and Linux. As for other versions, such as the PS3 and Xbox 360 variants, will remain as a paid game, and no plans have been announced to port Danger Zone to those other platforms.
