How to Play CSGO in 2026: Complete Guide

Can You Still Play CSGO in 2026?

Yes. Despite Valve officially replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with Counter-Strike 2 in September 2023, CSGO is still playable in 2026 through the Legacy branch on Steam. Official matchmaking is gone, but the game itself can be launched, community servers are still running, and there is an active community of players who prefer the original CSGO experience over CS2.

This guide covers everything you need to know: installing the Legacy branch, fixing the December 2025 crash bug, editing game files to access your inventory and the server browser, finding community servers with real players, and playing 5v5 competitive matches. Whether you are feeling nostalgic or genuinely prefer how CSGO plays, this is your complete guide to getting back in the game.

Step 1: Install CSGO Legacy from Steam

CSGO is not a separate game on Steam anymore. It exists as a beta branch within Counter-Strike 2. Here is how to access it:

1. Open your Steam Library and find Counter-Strike 2
2. Right-click on it and select Properties
3. Go to the Betas tab
4. In the "Beta Participation" dropdown, select "csgo_legacy - Legacy Version of CS:GO"
5. Close the properties window and let Steam download the Legacy build (approximately 13 GB)

Once the download completes, every time you click "Play" on Counter-Strike 2, Steam will give you a prompt asking whether you want to launch CS2 or CS:GO Legacy. Select the Legacy option to launch CSGO.

Step 2: Fix the December 2025 Crash Bug

Important: Since approximately December 19, 2025, CSGO Legacy crashes immediately on launch. This was caused by a Steam client update that introduced an incompatible crashhandler.dll file. CS2 is unaffected, but the Legacy branch will not start without a fix.

The most reliable workaround is to rename the problematic file:

1. Navigate to your Steam installation folder (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\)
2. Find the file called crashhandler.dll
3. Rename it to something like crashhandler.dll.bak
4. Launch CSGO Legacy again — it should now start normally

This fix is tracked by the community on GitHub. Valve has not officially addressed the regression, so this workaround may be needed indefinitely. If a future Steam update replaces the file, you may need to rename it again.

Alternative fix: Navigate to Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\panorama\ and rename the videos folder to videos.bak. Then add -novid to your CS2 launch options in Steam. This can help if the first method does not work.

Step 3: Edit steam.inf for Inventory and Server Browser Access

By default, CSGO Legacy launches in a limited state. Your inventory will not load and the community server browser will not function properly. To fix this, you need to edit the steam.inf file to update the client version number.

1. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 in Steam, go to Properties > Installed Files > Browse
2. Open the csgo folder
3. Find the file named steam.inf and open it in a text editor (Notepad works fine)
4. Find the line that says ClientVersion= and change the number to 2000700
5. Save the file

Important tip: Before editing, right-click on steam.inf, go to Properties, and uncheck "Read only" so you can save your changes. After saving, re-enable Read only so the game does not overwrite your edit when it launches.

After this change, your CSGO inventory should load (including all your skins), and the community server browser will become functional. Note that any CS2-exclusive items will appear blank since they did not exist in CSGO, but all original CSGO skins will display correctly.

If the version stops working: The client version number occasionally needs updating. Check community forums or our CSGO Discord server for the latest working value.

Step 4: Find CSGO Community Servers

Official Valve matchmaking has been permanently shut down. To play with other people, you need to join community servers. The in-game server browser may work after the steam.inf edit, but it is unreliable. The best approach is to use third-party server browser websites to find active CSGO servers.

Server Browser Websites

These websites track active CSGO community servers in real-time and show player counts, server location, game mode, and IP addresses:

• GameTracker (gametracker.com) — One of the oldest and most comprehensive server tracking sites. Search by game mode, map, region, or player count.
• Tsarvar (tsarvar.com) — Monitors servers every minute with ratings, player counts, and country info. Filter specifically for CSGO or CS2 servers.
• CS2Browser (cs2browser.com) — Covers all game modes including Surf, Bhop, 1v1, Retake, and competitive. Works for both CSGO and CS2 servers.
• GS4U (gs4u.net) — A CSGO-specific server list with search and monitoring features.

How to Connect to a Server

Once you find a server you want to join, here is how to connect:

1. Copy the server IP address from the website (it will look something like 185.123.45.67:27015)
2. Launch CSGO Legacy
3. Open the developer console by pressing the tilde key (~)
4. Type connect followed by a space and paste the server IP
5. Press Enter to connect

If your console is not enabled: Go to Settings > Game and set "Enable Developer Console" to Yes. Then go to Settings > Keyboard/Mouse, scroll down to find "Toggle Console," and bind it to a key (the tilde key ~ is the standard choice).

Discord Communities for CSGO Servers

Beyond server browser websites, Discord communities are one of the best ways to find active CSGO servers and coordinate games with other players. Many community server operators share their IPs and organize events through Discord.

Our CSGO Discord server has over 22,500 members and covers both CSGO and CS2. It is a great place to find other players who still enjoy CSGO, share server IPs, and organize 5v5 matches. Some servers require whitelisting through their Discord communities before you can connect.

Step 5: Playing 5v5 Competitive Matches

If you specifically want the 5v5 competitive experience that made CSGO famous, there are several options available in 2026:

Community 5v5 Servers

Search for "CSGO 5v5" or "CSGO competitive" on the server browser websites listed above. Many community servers run standard competitive rule sets (MR15 or MR12) on classic maps like Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, and Nuke. Server populations tend to be highest during European and CIS evening hours.

Third-Party Match Platforms

• PopFlash — Supports CSGO Legacy 5v5 matches. Originally used by professional players for practice scrims. Requires 10 players to start a match, which can be difficult to fill, so coordinating through Discord helps.
• CYBERSHOKE — Offers 5v5 servers, primarily for CS2 but some support CSGO Legacy connections.

Organizing Your Own Matches

The most reliable way to get a full 5v5 CSGO game going is to organize it yourself. Gather 10 players through Discord or Steam groups, pick a community server with good ping for everyone, and connect together. Our Discord community has LFG channels where you can find players for exactly this purpose.

Other Game Modes on Community Servers

Competitive 5v5 is not the only option. CSGO community servers in 2026 offer a variety of game modes, many of which maintain active player bases:

• Retake servers — Practice post-plant situations in quick rounds
• Surf — Movement-based maps where you glide along angled surfaces
• Bhop — Bunny-hopping courses that test movement precision
• KZ (Climb) — Parkour-style maps focused on advanced movement techniques
• 1v1 Arena — Quick aim duels against other players
• Deathmatch and FFA — Free-for-all combat for aim practice
• Zombie Escape — Co-op mode where players work together to escape zombie hordes
• Jailbreak — Guards vs. prisoners with custom rules and mini-games

These modes are especially popular because they do not require a full team to be enjoyable, so finding populated servers is easier than for strict 5v5 competitive.

Workshop Maps Still Work

You can still download and play CSGO workshop maps. On Steam, go to the Counter-Strike 2 Workshop page, click "Browse," and in the bottom right corner, tick the "Show Incompatible Items" checkbox. This will show all the old CSGO-era maps instead of CS2-only maps.

Subscribe to any map you want, launch CSGO Legacy, open the console, and type map followed by the map name to load it. This is perfect for practicing on aim training maps, exploring classic maps, or playing custom game modes with bots.

CSGO vs. CS2: Why Players Still Prefer the Original

There is a reason people go through all these steps to play a "discontinued" game. Many long-time players feel that CSGO simply plays better than CS2 in key areas:

• Smoother feel: CSGO's Source engine feels noticeably more responsive than CS2's Source 2. Many players describe it as the difference between 60Hz and 240Hz gaming — the input feedback is just tighter.
• Movement: CSGO's movement mechanics, including bunny hopping and counter-strafing, feel more precise and rewarding.
• Aiming: Hit registration and spray patterns in CSGO are widely considered more consistent and satisfying.
• Performance: CSGO runs significantly better on older hardware, maintaining higher frame rates with lower system requirements.
• Nostalgia: For players who spent thousands of hours in CSGO, the maps, sounds, and overall atmosphere carry a lot of sentimental value.

That said, CS2 is the future of Counter-Strike with active development, official matchmaking, and a growing competitive scene. For the latest CS2 content, check out CS2Central.gg.

Safety Warnings for Community Servers

This is important to understand before you start joining servers. CSGO Legacy is a frozen build that will never receive security patches from Valve. Connecting to community servers carries inherent risks:

• Remote code execution: Security researchers have demonstrated that malicious community servers could potentially execute code on your PC through Source engine vulnerabilities. Some of these vulnerabilities were never patched.
• Malware through custom files: When you connect to a community server, it can download custom maps, models, and other files to your system. A malicious server could potentially deliver malware this way.
• Phishing: Some servers or associated websites may prompt you to log in through fake Steam pages designed to steal your credentials.

How to Stay Safe

1. Only join well-known, populated servers with established reputations. Avoid empty or suspicious servers.
2. Never enter your Steam credentials on any website linked from a community server.
3. Never share your Steam API key with any third-party service.
4. Keep your antivirus software active while playing.
5. Use community resources like our Discord server to verify which servers are trusted before connecting.
6. Be cautious with any file downloads that seem unusual or unnecessary for normal gameplay.

Quick Reference: Complete Setup Checklist

Here is the full process from start to finish:

1. Right-click CS2 in Steam > Properties > Betas > select csgo_legacy
2. Wait for the ~13 GB download to complete
3. Navigate to your Steam folder and rename crashhandler.dll to crashhandler.dll.bak
4. Navigate to Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\steam.inf
5. Uncheck Read-only, change ClientVersion= to 2000700, save, re-enable Read-only
6. Launch CSGO Legacy from Steam
7. Enable developer console in Settings > Game
8. Find a server on GameTracker, Tsarvar, or our Discord
9. Open console (~), type connect <IP>, and press Enter

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CSGO still available on Steam?

Yes. CSGO exists as the "csgo_legacy" beta branch within Counter-Strike 2. You can switch to it through CS2's Properties > Betas menu in Steam. It is free and does not require a separate purchase.

Does CSGO matchmaking still work?

No. Valve permanently shut down official CSGO matchmaking when CS2 launched. To play with other people, you need to join community servers or use third-party match platforms like PopFlash.

Can I still use my CSGO skins?

Yes. After editing the steam.inf file as described above, your full CSGO inventory will load. All original CSGO skins display correctly. CS2-exclusive items will appear blank since they did not exist in CSGO.

Why does CSGO crash on launch?

A December 2025 Steam update broke CSGO Legacy by introducing an incompatible crashhandler.dll. The fix is to rename that file in your Steam folder. See Step 2 above for details.

Are community servers safe?

There are risks. CSGO Legacy is a frozen build that will never receive security patches. Only join well-known servers, keep your antivirus active, and never share your Steam credentials or API key with third-party services. See the safety section above for full details.

Where can I find other CSGO players?

Our CSGO Discord server has over 22,500 members and is one of the most active Counter-Strike communities. You can find teammates, share server IPs, and organize matches there.

Is it worth playing CSGO instead of CS2 in 2026?

It depends on what you are looking for. CSGO feels smoother and more responsive to many players, but it has a much smaller player base and no official support. CS2 has active development, official matchmaking, and a larger competitive scene. Many players in our community enjoy both games.

Last updated: January 31, 2026. Information about client versions, crash fixes, and server availability may change. Join our Discord community for the most current information on playing CSGO.