cs_militia is now in the game and all is right in the world

Despite lovingCounter-Strike: Global Offensiveupon release, I had concerns that Valve wouldn’t give it the same loving updates thatTeam Fortress 2received over the years. Well, they are finally proving my concern wrong with some fan-centric and game-changing updates. Thelatest addsin classic hostage rescue map cs_militia and drastically changes how hostages function for the first time sinceCondition Zero.

Let’s get real: Counter-terrorists rarely rescue hostages. It’s riskier and more time consuming than hunting down the remaining enemy, so it’s a tactic you rarely see outside clan matches. With the latest update, released March 21, hostages are now limited to two per map and are given random spawn points. CT players will now need to rescue only one to succeed, but carrying a hostage dramatically slows the player down.

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It’s still too early to say how this will effect the community and competitive play, but I found it to be both a massive functional and aesthetic improvement. It’s cool to watch a player run through fire with a hostage on their back, instead of awkwardly running behind, getting stuck on a wall. This is wonderfully displayed on cs_militia which has never looked or played better, thanks to upgrades that go beyond visuals.

I’ve been having a blast withCS:GOthis week, thanks to this update and others I must have missed that addressed complaints in my review — servers now offer free look and all the niceties and mods you’d find in previousCSentries. If you’ve been away fromCS:GOfor some time, now is a great time to go in and check out what’s new.

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

This update, like those before it, is PC only. Sorry, PS3 and Xbox 360 fans.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.