PS3 CS: GO supports keyboard and mouse

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 26 August, 2011

PS3/PC cross-platform play confirmed.

PlayStation 3 owners will be able to use a keyboard and mouse to play download only online shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Xbox 360 owners will only be able to use a gamepad, Kotaku reports from PAX Prime.

PS3 owners also have the option of using PS Move, and, of course, the DualShock 3 controller.

Cross-platform play between PC/Mac and PlayStation 3, as seen with Portal 2, is also confirmed.

Valve boss Gabe Newell told Eurogamer at Gamescom last week that he would love for the Xbox 360 version of CS: GO to include Steamworks, but faces a tough job convincing Microsoft to let it happen.

The game includes five maps for Bomb/Defuse mode and two for Hostage Rescue. All the maps are based on those from Counter-Strike 1.6 and CS: Source.

Valve will host its own servers for all versions of the game, although gamers can host their own. Only on Valve's servers will players be matchmade based on skill.

The beta begins in October. The first trailer is below. CS: GO will be playable at Eurogamer Expo next month.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (70) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • King_Edward #1 9 months ago

    Sweet. I'm amazed that so few console shooters do this.

  • Pwnsweet #2 9 months ago

    Best news I've heard of any kind in a LONG time. More Devs need to do this for console FPS.

  • Widge #3 9 months ago

    Be delicious if they bolted on an upgraded Day Of Defeat as some sort of DLC later...

  • NotSoSlim #4 9 months ago

    PS3 definitive version then. Move support added bonus for those who want similar controls to mouse and keyboard

  • CaptainQuint #5 9 months ago

    But doesn't a mouse provide a serious advantage over a controller?

    This makes me hope that the Xbox 360 version remains closed, because I LIKE using a controller. I retreated from the pc desk to the sofa about five years ago and I like mouse/keyboard free gaming.

  • Rack #6 9 months ago

    The downside of this is that gamepads are effectively not supported so this isn't something I'd like to see done ubiquitously. But it's good to see it somewhere at least.

  • DoctorFraud #7 9 months ago

    360 is and will always be the best version for multiplatform games.

  • Widge #8 9 months ago

    Actually I'll weigh in with a fingers crossed for a Portal 2 style one purchase for two platforms situation.

  • mss99 #9 9 months ago

    Don't know why they don't offer the option on all suitable PS3 games. Unreal was possibly the first and last game to do this and the Web browser supports mouse and keyboard so the option has always been there. Would make a big difference to SIM/God and RTS games as the controller is not best suited to these.
    Edited by mss99 at 26/08/11 @ 08:48

  • Clive_Dunn #10 9 months ago

    Sounds like the biggest selling point is the easy kills the PC gamers will get on this.

  • Whitster #11 9 months ago

    Surely anyone that bothered by mouse and keyboard would already ply on pc?

  • TheEarlOfZinger #12 9 months ago

    haha I play all my ps3 shooters with mouse & keyboard.
    Edited by TheEarlOfZinger at 26/08/11 @ 08:53

  • MaoZedong #13 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 09:40:08 17-12-2011

  • loveduckie #14 9 months ago

    That's a complete buzzkill for the Xbox gamers. Hopefully there'll be the ability to specify server search criteria where you can select to play in a server where there's only Xbox players as such.

    Still, Valve are ticking ALL the right boxes.

    - Dedicated servers
    - Cross platform competition
    - Mouse and keyboard support for the PS3.

    Good going Valve, even if you take a lightyear to release a game after announcement.

  • Architect_z #15 9 months ago

    YES! I'm so glad they decided to do this, I was gonna buy CS:GO for PC,
    but if keyboard and mouse is compatible, I can continue on PS3.

    Saying that, I have enough peripherals spewing out of my PS3 at the moment. ^_^
    Edited by Architect_z at 26/08/11 @ 09:13

  • JahB #16 9 months ago

    Bad decision, this effectively means you can't play with a controller anymore. Keyboard/mouse controls belong on pc alone, and anyone that played shadowrun can sing you a song about crossover play.

  • CrumpledPaper #17 9 months ago

    Turning the screw on MS big time.

  • danhese007 #18 9 months ago

    Listen up bozos. Just because someone mostly plays FPS on consoles doesn't mean a PC FPS player knows how to play better. Everyone knows how to use a bloody mouse and keyboard which is the easiest controller for FPS gaming because of the mouse not the keyboard. Using a mouse and keyboard is not the best but the easiest. You simply move your mouse which is an accurate pointing device with relatively less lag and click, EASY. Console controllers shine in every game and even FPS with even more added features that keyboards and mouses don't offer. I use my 360 controller to game on PC and im sure others do too and if you suck while using the easy Mouse to game, chances are you would suck even more using an analog stick which is a lot harder than using a mouse.
    Edited by danhese007 at 26/08/11 @ 09:22

  • Subdominator #19 9 months ago

    This will suck for everybody playing on PS3 with a gamepad unless they offer good server filtering. And even if you're on mouse/keyboard on PS3 you're at a disadvantage because your fps will be much lower than on PC.

  • onyxbox #20 9 months ago

    I'm sure they'll have a filter on match making if you don't want to play against people with mouse and keyboard.. This is what Unreal 3 did & I'm certain Valve are very aware of the balancing issues of Controller vs M + K

    Steam is quite an ecosystem

  • aphex187 #21 9 months ago

    Absolutely fantastic news!!!!!!!!!

  • kangarootoo #22 9 months ago

    Damn. What a support-bundle (my own word).

  • DrStrangelove #23 9 months ago

    Of all games, how can you even consider playing CS with a pad? Unless it has an enormous amount of auto-aim, it's going to be horrible.

  • danhese007 #24 9 months ago

    The thing i like with Sony is they let developers chose which controller option they want for their games. Most devs add keyboard and mouse support indirectly with a PS2 adapter and it works perfectly in almost every game.

  • Toothball #25 9 months ago

    Having a keyboard and mouse on PS3 means there won't be an inherent disadvantage, but on the whole I prefer to see console games being optimised for a controller. It's not impossible to play FPS games on a console, it just depends on whether the game is expecting rapid changes in direction all the time. Games like Halo and even Goldeneye worked with a controller since that's what they were designed around. I can see it being necessary to have keyboard and mouse with games like this though.

  • Pehmu #26 9 months ago

    I'm amazed that so few console shooters do this.

    It is weird. Both 360 and PS3 have USB ports for m&k, not to mention how easy it is to plug them into a PC monitor.

  • CaptainQuint #27 9 months ago

    @danhese

    You think MS didn't consider cross-platform play in the past? Well they did. Their tests proved conclusively that mouse and keyboard was massively advantageous over controller gaming - simply put: those using a mouse hammered their controller using opponents. It's not speculation, it's fact.

  • Ryze #28 9 months ago

    @loveduckie

    Lightyears measure distance, not time. a lightyear is a the distance that light travels, in 1 year. So... 1 year? Fine.

  • gjgjg #29 9 months ago

    Ps3 version it is then, pending some terrible results from digifoundary.
    Take note ms, the closed system will cost u in the end.

  • Moonprince #30 9 months ago

    FFS there will obviously be a ranking system of some sort to filter you into players of a similar skill level, regardless of K/M or control pad.

  • danhese007 #31 9 months ago

    @CaptainQuint

    Like i pointed out in my first comment, mouse is a very accurate pointer. It moves relative to your hand position so therefore it is an easy and very accurate control method which gives it an advantage over game pads. Using an analog stick is the equivalent of using the A & D for left and right and the UP & DOWN arrow keys while using the space to shoot. You can obviously see how the mouse shines, i never argued the contrary. I simply said just because you game on PC doesn't mean you know how to play better than those who play on consoles. You dont need microsoft to tell you a mouse is a better and accurate pointer than using an analog stick.
    Edited by danhese007 at 26/08/11 @ 09:46

  • Retro_ #32 9 months ago

    LOL @ Ryze

    Well said and a good lesson. Perhaps you could extend the lesson a tad to let us all know exactly how far light travels in one second, in a vacuum obviously ;)

    And remember kids, we are seeing the sun as it was 8 minutes ago.

  • Collymilad #33 9 months ago

    FFS Microsoft, pull your fucking finger out eh?

  • kangarootoo #34 9 months ago

    @CaptainQuint

    The implication in your comment is that the reason games such as CS: GO don't support kb&m is BECAUSE MS think it unbalances games. But those are two independant issues.

    MS's discoveries about the implications of kb support on gameplay may be fact (a link would be handy in establishing that btw). The influence of those discoveries on what technical restrictions they place on the development decisions of independant studios is pure speculation on your part.



    As a general rule, facts speak for themselves. Whenever someone goes to pains to point out that something is indeed a fact, and certainly NOT the speculation it might appear to be to naive eyes, I have to admit to feeling skeptical.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 26/08/11 @ 09:51

  • NorUraeus #35 9 months ago

    I am sure Valve will set up controller-only servers, so people need not worry about people playing with Mouse and keyboard beating them. I mean seriously, do you expect a seasoned game company like Valve to not realize this kind of things?

  • roz123 #36 9 months ago

    Time to teach some console noobs a lesson in how to play first person shooters.

  • Stevehd #37 9 months ago

    This is great news :D

  • CaptainQuint #38 9 months ago

    @danhese

    Ah my bad, I misunderstood you there, sorry.

  • CaptainQuint #39 9 months ago

    @kangerootoo

    Here you go: http://kotaku.com/5593259/rumor-microsof...

  • danhese007 #40 9 months ago

    @CaptainQuint
    No worries. What that article effectively says is Microsoft kills any chances of cross play between PC and Xbox 360 because they dont want to add keyboard support to 360 which sucks. Who says console gamers have to only use game pads and PC gamers have to only use keyboards? i mean after all console parts are essentially PC parts.
    Edited by danhese007 at 26/08/11 @ 10:04

  • FogHeart #41 9 months ago

    Significantly, the first third party FPS to use Move as a controller. And it's about time too. Gamers thought Portal 2 was going to support Move, were disappointed when Valve squashed that rumour.

    As a compromise between k&m and sixaxis, Move works well in FPS.

  • Daddy-Doom-Bar #42 9 months ago

    Just imagine if MS weren't money grabbing whores. They've got the best online service out of all consoles...just imagine if they had the same attitude as Sony and allowed Steamworks/iplayer/f2p...

  • Mister-Wario #43 9 months ago

    Can we get mouse and keyboard support in PS3 Portal 2, then? Assuming it isn't already supported.

  • kangarootoo #44 9 months ago

    @CaptainQuint

    Hey, nice one. I didn't expect a link. I commend you.

    It almost makes me feel bad about drawing your attention to the bold use of the "rumour" in that article ;) Still, its interesting to see some anecdotal evidence of it. Again I say, I'm not sure that incident still accounts for current policy, but I appreciate the link.

  • StooMonster #45 9 months ago

    kangarootoo: a link would be handy in establishing that btw

    Googling for yourself would be handy BTW. ;)

    Last year Voodoo PC founder Rahul Sood stated “I've heard from reliable sources that during the development they brought together the best console gamers to play mediocre PC gamers at the same game... and guess what happened? They pitted console gamers with their 'console' controller, against PC gamers with their keyboard and mouse. The console players got destroyed every time. So much so that it would be embarrassing to the XBOX team in general had Microsoft launched this initiative.”

    [link url=http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-against-pc.html
    ]http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console...[/link]

    Unreal Tournament 3 was originally announced with cross-platform compatibility with PS3 versus PC, but this was never delivered ... despite the game offering k&m option on the console.

    Shadowrun, Universe at War, and Lost Planet were PC/Xbox cross-platform titles where you can Google more commentary.

    However, PCWorld asked Kevin Unangst, Microsoft Senior Director of PC and Mobile Gaming:

    GO: Did Microsoft run internal studies pitting gamepad players against keyboards/mice opponents?

    KU: Absolutely. When we developed Shadowrun, cross-platform play was a brand new technology and we tested it at length to find the right balance for each platform. These tests played a strong role in the development of Shadowrun and included testers who were hardcore Counter-Strike players on PC and Halo players on console. The attention and detail that went in to play balancing between mouse/keyboard and controller was also something that informed a white paper on the subject, which we make available to developers as part of our development tools.

    GO: Are Rahul Sood's (of Voodoo PC) comments accurate when he claims the best keyboard/mice players "demolished" the best gamepad players during Microsoft-led play tests?

    KU: I can't speak to where Sood got his information, but having seen our tests it's not an accurate generalization. Game design choices can balance or tip the scales--much in the same way that a PC game can be built to use a gamepad or keyboard and mouse, and can implement either or both well or poorly. It's the developer's job to find the right balance.

    [link url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/203559/answered_did_microsoft_kill_crossplatform_xbox_360_and_windows_play.html
    ]http://www.pcworld.com/article/203559/an...[/link]

    So, Microsoft's cross-platform whitepaper is about "the right balance for each platform" and "play balancing between mouse/keyboard and controller" (which applies to only PC versions too that support k&m and joypad as options).

    Interesting in the PCWorld article, Unangst (is that the opposite of angst?), dodges questions about why cross-platform is non-existent with Xbox and whether any titles will be cross-platform in the future.

  • obscured021 #46 9 months ago

    The only way to play an FPS is with the keyboard and mouse, it would be like trying to play a car game like GTR or grand T with out a good wheel,

    I don't undestand stand the reason that people dont like the pc as they think desk only, i have my pc plugged in to a 50 inch 3d tv and i play it from my couch just like my ps3 and 360, i use a combo of my mouse,360 controler and ps3 controler on pc depending on the game.

  • kangarootoo #47 9 months ago

    @StooMonster

    Googling for myself would be handy, but if someone else states something as fact I expect THEM to be the one backing it up with a link (as was provided in the end).


    Edit: and I say yet again, everything referenced so far is regarding one specific title. The influence of MS's testing on that specific title can I conceed be taken as fact (thanks for the links :) ). The influence of those findings (some years ago) on current policy is still speculation. MS are not short of other reasons to restrict the support of 3rd party HW on their platform.

    For the record, I'm not saying I doubt it. I am just being a pedant for the difference between fact (proved) and speculation (suggested). We don't have proof at this time, so its not fact at this time.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 26/08/11 @ 10:33

  • Subdominator #48 9 months ago

    I think we all know why Microsoft doesn't allow cross platform gaming: They want to make money with Xbox Live Gold. If you could play on the same servers for free with PS3 and PC, why settle for Xbox 360?

    The reason why gamepad gameplay in Shadowrun was actually competitive to mouse/keyboard was because they messed up keyboard controls so much that it was just as laggy and unresponsive as the gameplay.

  • Buran #49 9 months ago

    Was about time. The last one I bought with k+m support in PS3 was Unreal Tournament III, like 1.000 years ago.

  • Spooke #50 9 months ago

    Yep I'll be getting this for PS3 then, I'm completely fed up with COD on the Xbox and that controller...

  • wayn3h #51 9 months ago

    As long as they don't start locking down the source in game console on the pc version then this cross platform thing bothers me not.
    As one who was there from the early days summer '99 wasn't it? Bleddy ell I'm feeling old....). I look forward to this with baited breath. I just hope they don't mess up the fundamentals of what made this game what it is. Well I say that but some might argue that CS:S has become a bastardization of it's former self.

  • CrumpledPaper #52 9 months ago

    Also, a Vita version please - with cross-play with PS3/PC/Mac - and unlockable free with PS3 purchase. For total and complete WIN.

  • TudeScud #53 9 months ago

    @Fogheart
    Actually that was Time Crisis: Razing Storm's Story and Multiplayer I believe, but you may have off-handedly dismissed it (it certainly is difficult to consider as a significant title).

    There are third-party peripherals that allow you to workaround keyboard and mouse controls, but official support I'd say is sorely needed, if we could use that in conjunction with RTS it could open a wide-swathe of gaming.

    @Danhese007
    What do you mean by devs supporting kb/m indirectly? Do you mean simply the creators of the third-party peripherals?

    P.S. Still holding out hope that Valve will release a Move patch for Portal 2. It seems more than feasible with this announcement. PC Move support would be great too :D .

  • alcides #54 9 months ago

    ala or à la is french for "In the way of" or "in the same manner as"

  • TheEarlOfZinger #55 9 months ago

    shhh, don't tell him

  • chessboxer #56 9 months ago

    Awesome news.

    I wonder if those complaining about the inclusion of mouse and keyboard would also complain about the inclusion of Move support in Killzone 3 and MAG, or even steering wheel support in racing titles which mixes it up with controller users all the time?

    Also cross platform play isn't included with the 360 because Live is a closed environment and there is no way that a Valve game would support GFWL.

    The tone I've been getting from some 360 owners (some, not all) on here in articles concerning Valve and the consoles since Steamworks was confirmed for PS3 Portal 2 is:

    Cross game chat = must have and total justifies XBL Gold premium
    Cross platform play and chat = worthless and still doesn't justify a free service

  • MaoZedong #57 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 09:40:08 17-12-2011

  • Drygore #58 9 months ago

    @DoctorFraud

    Apparently not in this case eh? It's also not always true in other cases either. It's often exagerated tbh. And sometimes the other way around, like for example In the case of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

    Still, i mostly play on my 360 at the moment, so this isnt a fanboy response.

  • Drygore #59 9 months ago

    @danhese007

    Ok.. FYI: Controller works fine, i agree. But you simply CAN'T compare it to someone somewhat skilled with a mouse&keyboard. And how can you say a controller can do stuff that a k&m can't? A keyboard has over 100 mappable buttons. Hell, even my mouse has 13 mappable buttons. Like i said, a controller works fine. But you can't even begin to say it's remotely close to being as effective.

    But sure, if you prefer it that's fine. But that's a whole other matter.
    Edited by Drygore at 26/08/11 @ 13:16

  • ruslan74 #60 9 months ago

    I honestly dont see what the fuss is about. Shadowrun on the PC/X360 worked seamlessly back in 2007 and there was no noticeable advantage of PC users with k&m vs joypad gamers on the Xbox. Been there and done that.

  • whoyouknow #61 9 months ago

    That's it, I'm getting a PS3.

  • Peter_LIAR_Molyneux #62 9 months ago

    @ruslan74

    The reason that there was no noticable advantage of mouse/keyboard players over gamepad players in Shadowrun is because the developers utterly neutered the keyboard/mouse resonsiveness and speed. They also implemented huge auto-aiming for the 360 players.

    Those two factors combined to even the playing field. The use of liberal auto-aim I didn't have any problems with but tampering and restricting the mouse controls to bring it DOWN to the gamepad level instead of bringing the gamepad UP to the PC level just didn't sit well with me. It was clear which platform Microsoft wanted to please of the two.

  • Xardan #63 9 months ago

    Sooo why are either of these things a particularly good thing?

  • vizzini #64 9 months ago

    Even though the move/sharpshooter sales probably weren't massive for Killzone 3(like millions), I can conceivably see CS being the game were the sharpshooter will get an opportunity to get used by enough people over a prolonged period of time and with high level competition.

    I'm still pretty much hinder by my poor left thumb control (to move and strafe) in Killzone 3 using it, but the speed at which you can use a sharpshooter to line up shots, turn and shoot accurately has me convinced that there will people who will take it beyond the keyboard and mouse in the coming years.

  • Dreadaxe #65 9 months ago

    As long as i can set matchmaking to controller only when i want to.

  • mrblonde #66 9 months ago

    Looks very dated graphically tbh, but being a valve title i guess the gameply will be great.

  • curryking3 #67 9 months ago

    If I buy the PS3 version, will I get a PC version as well (like with Portal 2)?

    I will buy the PS3 version for sure if so.

  • shadowdogg #68 9 months ago

    FUCK YESS!!!

  • riseer #69 9 months ago

    Doctorfraud,tell that to Portal 2 on Ps3,Pc>Ps3>>>>Xbox 360 all day nub.

  • SeesThroughAll #70 9 months ago

    PlayStation 3 owners will be able to use a keyboard and mouse to play download only online shooter ...

    Took long enough.

    Having said that... I might as well just get it on PC then. ;)