Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is now free to play.. only if you meet this condition

Valve has just made Counter-Strike: Global Offensive free-to-play for players in China. If you want to try your luck too, it’s not going to be easy to take advantage of it.

Although it wasn’t stated in the latest update release notes, a code in the game files shows that players can get the game through Perfect World, a game publisher in China much like Steam. To get CS:GO for free, players must verify their identity on their account through Perfect World. Once their identity is verified and the game is downloaded. Prospective players are also given “Prime” status, which grants them access to exclusive Prime-only matchmaking games. If players are unable to verify their identity, Perfect World will make them pay for a game license like any other consumer.

CS:GO will probably see an overall spike in active users as a result of this change. Another effect would be Esports side of things, where the country failed to show the same kind of dominance internationally like Dota 2 and League of Legends- both free to play popular games. This might help CS: GO as now anyone can become a pro player in it.

Let’s hope Valve makes CS:GO free on Steam one day, at least in the Middle East!