CS:GO was separated from CS2 in a surprise return to Steam earlier this week, albeit without matchmaking or achievements. Many hope that the Workshop and community server browser will be supported again (right now, the only way to connect is via the dev console), and much like with CS 1.6 and Counter-Strike Source, that Global Offensive can continue to thrive with its own dedicated playerbase for years to come. However, Valve is already throwing a spanner in the works for those plans.

CS:GO has already reached an impressive concurrent peak of 66,000 players, while Counter-Strike: Source still routinely pulls in peaks of around 20,000.

Dust2 reports that Valve will not be granting licenses to tournament organizers for Global Offensive events, despite still granting licenses for 1.6 and Source tournaments, among other legacy titles. No reason was provided for the blanket refusal on licensing, but it's likely that Valve wants to avoid competing among itself with Counter-Strike 2.

Why Valve Might Be Hesitant To Approve CS:GO Tournaments

The key difference here compared to older titles is that CS 1.6 and CSS were not live-service games with lucrative marketplaces, while CS2 is more of an upgrade than a traditional sequel, building directly from where CS:GO left off. Still, the potential for throwback events is rife, especially with CS:GO celebrating its 15th anniversary next year, and it's hard to imagine these kinds of nostalgic tournaments competing with the competitive esports of CS2.

Valve has confirmed to Dust2.us that they will not grant licenses to tournament organizers to operate Counter-Strike: Global Offensive events.

Whichever way you slice it, this is a major blow to the reemerging CS:GO scene, but its return to Steam is still a huge win for preservation, and with community servers back online, and tens of thousands of players flocking back each day, tournaments or not, CS:GO could enjoy the same longevity as the games that came before it.