CS:GO goes free-to-play, announces battle royale mode called ‘Danger Zone’

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the latest game to hop on the battle royale train with the release of the brand-new mode entitled ‘Danger Zone.’

Over the last few days, the CS:GO community has been buzzing with rumors centered around the possibility of a new battle royale mode for the classic title. 

On December 6, those rumors were confirmed with the unveiling of the new mode called ‘Danger Zone’ that will put a unique CS:GO spin on the popular genre. 

Unlike most battle royale titles, this mode will feature just 18 players (16 players for Solos), but will still feature the same concept of a constantly shrinking zone that players will need to navigate around. 

Another major difference is the exclusion of the typical four-player squad variant, with Danger Zone featuring Solos, Duos, and Trios modes at launch. 

The developers have confirmed that all the weapons have the same behavior and damage as they do in normal CS:GO game modes, but players have 120HP in Danger Zone, which means fights will play out much differently. 

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Instead of simply looking for weapons spread throughout the map, players will earn money from completely different tasks and contracts each round that will allow the opportunity to purchase weapons and equipment prior to the start of each round. 

In addition to the announcement of Danger Zone, it was also announced that the game has gone free-to-play, with anyone being able to pick up the game with all game modes immediately. 

Players who already own the game will be given “Prime Status” that comes with special perks such as souvenir items, item drops, and weapons cases. 

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Those looking to gain Prime Status can either reach Rank 21 by earning experience points and adding an eligible phone number or purchasing the Prime Status upgrade for $14.99 in the Steam store or in-game. 

That Prime Status will come in handy for players wanting to unlock the new souvenir weapon ‘MP5-SD | Lab Rats’ before it goes away January 9, 2019. 

Valve have also released an extensive FAQ on Danger Zone to answer all of the burning questions that players might have. 

Danger Zone Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are in a match? 

If you queue as a solo player, you’ll enter a 16 player match. If you queue as a squad of two or three, your match will have up to 18 players. 

How do I play as a squad? 

You can play with friends by joining their lobby in the main menu. Play Danger Zone as a two or three-player squad, and you’ll be matched against other squads. 

How long do matches last? 

Danger Zone matches typically last about 10 minutes. 

Do weapons behave the same as they do in other CS:GO game modes? 

Yes. CS:GO’s guns have the same behavior and damage in Danger Zone as in other CS:GO game modes. However, since Danger Zone players can have up to 120HP, they may survive encounters that would otherwise be deadly. 

How is XP earned? 

You can earn XP in Danger Zone by looting your environment, killing enemies and trying your best to survive. 

How do I get the Souvenir MP5-SD | Lab Rats? 

To earn a Souvenir MP5-SD | Lab Rats, you need to have Prime Status and earn 250 XP in Danger Zone. The souvenir is available for all players until 2019-01-09