While the classic Counter-Strike experience remains accessible on Steam, an unofficial remake known as CS: Legacy has encountered significant hurdles. Initially announced last year by a team of veteran modders, this ambitious project aimed to recreate the beloved CS 1.6 using Valve’s 2013 Source Engine. However, shortly after the announcement, the developers received a message from a Valve employee that cast doubt on the project’s future. Despite their efforts to seek clarity, communication with Valve regarding CS: Legacy’s viability has been sparse. In a recent update, the developers confirmed that they have “frozen” the project and are making “one last attempt” to engage with Valve, while simultaneously redirecting their focus toward a new multiplayer intellectual property.
Background of CS: Legacy
CS: Legacy is the brainchild of the same team responsible for CSPromod, an enhanced version of the original Counter-Strike that debuted in the early 2000s. Following the release of CS:GO in 2012, which incorporated many of the improvements CSPromod aimed to introduce, the latter was effectively shelved. CS: Legacy, however, sought to revive the classic experience for a contemporary audience. Built from the ground up in Source 2013, it promised not merely a port but a project featuring “100% custom game code and game assets,” with an emphasis on openness and modifiability.
Despite the team’s assurances that CS: Legacy would comply with Valve’s licensing and SDK requirements, changes in 2025 saw Valve adopt a more stringent stance on fan-made projects involving its intellectual property. A notable instance of this was the rebranding of Team Fortress 2 Classified, which was compelled by Valve to alter its identity prior to launching on Steam. In July of the previous year, CS: Legacy faced a setback when its creators were cautioned by a Valve employee that “the use of the Counter-Strike IP might no longer be allowed without a separate, dedicated license,” potentially jeopardizing their ability to release the remake. The team’s attempts to seek official clarification from Valve went unanswered, leading them to refund Patreon backers and pivot towards developing a new first-person shooter in the Godot game engine.
Current Status and Future Plans
In a recent statement shared on X, the developers expressed their frustration over the lack of communication from Valve. “Despite our repeated attempts over the past few months to get clarification, and to see how we could adapt the project to be able to release it on their terms, they unfortunately never replied,” the message stated. “Neither the original sender who reached out, nor their legal team, nor other contacts we were given.”
As a result, the development of CS: Legacy has been fully halted, though the team remains hopeful for a potential resolution that would allow them to resume work on the project. “We will try again to reopen communication with Valve, to see if there is a way to make CS: Legacy happen. But if we still do not hear back, we’ll commit fully to the original IP,” they noted. “We can’t keep investing time and energy into a project that might not release. That said, should we find a solution that allows a release, we will resume development, release the project, and let the community contribute content ASAP. We think highly of Valve and we will respect their decision.”
The developers also shared glimpses of their new game being crafted in the Godot engine, showcasing early screenshots of an alpha test level that still evoke the essence of classic Valve shooters. They have already achieved several milestones, including the establishment of a “fully functional GUI,” a movement system inspired by Quake, and tools for creating game modes and entities. Even if the dream of modernizing classic CS does not materialize, the team appears committed to delivering a first-person shooter that pays homage to the games of the early 2000s.
