Valve has once again set the bar - Counter-Strike 2 is becoming one of the most profitable games on Steam in 2024. This fully illustrates that this series represents endless popularity. Surprisingly, in this regard, CS2 has managed to surpass such "giants" as Dota 2 and PUBG, not to mention newer games like Path of Exile 2.

Typically, revenue leaders set trends followed by the entire industry - from esports events to monetization strategies. This confirms how Valve has managed to modernize the classic Counter-Strike formula and attract millions of players worldwide.

Steam Leaders: Who Else Stood Out?

Along with CS2 in Steam's "platinum" ranking among the highest-grossing games of the year were: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, PUBG, Baldur’s Gate III, Dota 2, Palworld, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, Elden Ring, Helldivers 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Black Myth: Wukong.

CS2 also made it into Steam's "platinum" ranking of "Most Popular Games by Concurrent Players," alongside Apex Legends, Dota 2, Elden Ring, Palworld, Black Myth Wukong, Path of Exile 2, PUBG, Marvel Rivals, and Helldivers 2. This year, CS2 reached a peak of 1,740,261 concurrent users playing the game on December 9th.

Why is CS2's Success Important for the Entire Industry?

CS2's record-breaking revenues testify to Valve's expertise in game development and inspire other developers to rejuvenate their franchises with fresh innovations. The success, in turn, raises the bar for esports: new sponsors are added, awareness increases, etc. Well, this is just a fragment of the legendary game's history, but one of the important milestones in the development of the entire gaming industry.

The fact that CS2 is among the top games of the year both in terms of concurrent players and gross revenue indicates that Valve is on the right path with its games, and the numbers confirm this. These numbers demonstrate that Valve's approach resonates with a broad audience, even though the active community continues to criticize it for things like the anti-cheat system and others. The company's ability to maintain such high popularity and profitability suggests that its overall strategy is successful.