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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive official

Mac, PC, PSN and XBLA early next year.

Valve has announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, due out on PC, Mac (via Steam), PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade early 2012.

As rumoured earlier today, the game features new maps, characters and weapons. According to Valve, it "delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc)".

On top of that, you'll get new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leaderboards and more. Valve did not mention whether it is free to play.

"Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999," said Valve marketing chief Doug Lombardi.

"For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise.

"CS: GO promises to expand on the CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

Global Offensive is being developed by Defense Grid: The Awakening creator Hidden Path Entertainment in collaboration with Valve.

And Eurogamer is delighted to announce that the game will be playable at Eurogamer Expo 2011 next month.