How to Download and Play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Ubuntu
Introduction
If you are a fan of first-person shooter games, you have probably heard of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO for short. This game is one of the most popular and competitive online multiplayer games in the world, with millions of players and fans. But did you know that you can also play CS:GO on Ubuntu, the popular Linux-based operating system? In this article, we will show you how to download and play CS:GO on Ubuntu, and why you might want to do so.
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What is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive?
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a 2012 multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series, which started as a mod for Half-Life in 1999. CS:GO features new maps, characters, weapons, and game modes, as well as updated versions of the classic CS content. The game pits two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, against each other in different objective-based game modes, such as bomb defusal, hostage rescue, deathmatch, and more. The game also has a battle-royale mode called Danger Zone, which was introduced in 2018. CS:GO has an active esports scene, with professional teams and tournaments around the world. The game is also free to play on Steam, the online gaming platform by Valve.
Why play CS:GO on Ubuntu?
There are several reasons why you might want to play CS:GO on Ubuntu instead of Windows or other operating systems. Here are some of them:
Ubuntu is free and open-source, which means you can customize it to your liking and benefit from the support of a large community of developers and users.
Ubuntu is fast and secure, which means you can enjoy a smooth and stable gaming experience without worrying about viruses or malware.
Ubuntu is compatible with Steam and CS:GO, which means you can easily install and run them on your system without any hassle.
Ubuntu is fun and challenging, which means you can learn new skills and explore new possibilities while playing your favorite game.
How to install Steam on Ubuntu
The first step to play CS:GO on Ubuntu is to install Steam, the online gaming platform that hosts the game. There are two ways to do this: using the package manager or using Flatpak.
Using the package manager
The package manager is a tool that allows you to install, update, and remove software packages on your system. Depending on your Ubuntu version and distribution, you may have different package managers available, such as apt, apt-get, snap, or dnf. To install Steam using the package manager, follow these steps:
Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for Terminal in the application menu.
Type or paste the following command to update your system and install Steam:sudo apt update && sudo apt install steamIf you are using a different package manager, replace apt with the appropriate one.
Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
Wait for the installation process to finish.
Launch Steam by clicking on the Steam icon in the application menu or typing steam in the terminal.
Using Flatpak
Flatpak is a software distribution system that allows you to install and run applications in isolated containers, regardless of your operating system version or configuration. To install Steam using Flatpak, follow these steps:
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Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for Terminal in the application menu.
Type or paste the following command to install Flatpak on your system:sudo apt install flatpakIf you are using a different package manager, replace apt with the appropriate one.
Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
Type or paste the following command to add the Flathub repository, which hosts many Flatpak applications, including Steam:flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub
Press Enter and wait for the process to finish.
Type or paste the following command to install Steam from Flathub:flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam
Press Enter and confirm the installation when prompted.
Launch Steam by clicking on the Steam icon in the application menu or typing flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam in the terminal.
How to download CS:GO on Steam
Once you have installed and launched Steam on your Ubuntu system, you can download CS:GO from the Steam store. To do this, follow these steps:
Creating a Steam account and getting a GSLT
If you don't have a Steam account already, you will need to create one to play CS:GO. To create a Steam account, click on the Login button on the top right corner of the Steam window and then click on Join Steam. Follow the instructions to create your username, password, and email address. You will also need to verify your email and agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
To play CS:GO online, you will also need to get a Game Server Login Token (GSLT) from Valve. This is a unique code that identifies your server and prevents abuse. To get a GSLT, go to and log in with your Steam account. Then, enter 730 as the App ID (this is the code for CS:GO) and click on Create. You will see your GSLT displayed on the screen. Copy it and save it somewhere safe. You will need it later when you launch the game.
Searching for CS:GO and clicking on Download
To find CS:GO on the Steam store, click on the Store button on the top left corner of the Steam window and type Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in the search box. You will see the game appear in the results. Click on it to open its page. You will see that the game is free to play, so you don't need to pay anything to download it. Just click on the green Play Game button on the right side of the page. This will open a pop-up window that will ask you to install CS:GO on your system. Click on Next and then choose where you want to install the game (the default location is fine). Then, click on Next again and wait for the download and installation process to finish. This may take some time depending on your internet speed and disk space.
Adjusting the game settings and launch options
Before you launch CS:GO for the first time, you may want to adjust some of its settings and launch options to optimize its performance and compatibility with Ubuntu. To do this, go to your Steam library by clicking on the Library button on the top of the Steam window. Then, right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and select Properties. This will open a new window with several tabs. Here are some of the things you can do:
In the General tab, you can enable or disable Steam Overlay, which is a feature that allows you to access Steam features while playing (such as chat, screenshots, etc.). You can also enable or disable Cloud Sync, which is a feature that saves your game data online so you can access it from different devices.
In the Updates tab, you can choose when and how often Steam updates CS:GO. You can also enable or disable automatic updates, which may affect your bandwidth usage and game stability.
In the Local Files tab, you can verify the integrity of your game files, which may fix some issues or errors that occur while playing. You can also browse your local files to see where CS:GO is installed on your system, or move or delete the game files.
In the Language tab, you can choose the language of the game interface and audio. You can also download additional language packs if you want.
In the Betas tab, you can opt in or out of beta versions of CS:GO, which may have new features or bug fixes, but may also be unstable or incompatible with some servers or mods.
In the DLC tab, you can see and manage the downloadable content (DLC) that you have for CS:GO, such as maps, skins, stickers, etc. You can also buy more DLC from the Steam store if you want.
In the Compatibility tab, you can enable or disable Steam Play, which is a feature that allows you to play Windows games on Linux using a compatibility layer called Proton. You can also choose which version of Proton to use, or use a custom one if you have it.
In the Launch Options tab, you can enter some commands or parameters that will affect how CS:GO runs on your system. For example, you can enter -novid to skip the intro video, -console to enable the developer console, -nojoy to disable joystick support, -fullscreen to run the game in full screen mode, -windowed to run the game in windowed mode, -w 1920 -h 1080 to set the resolution to 1920x1080 pixels, +fps_max 60 to limit the frame rate to 60 frames per second, +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_GSLT to enter your GSLT for online play, and so on. You can find more launch options online or experiment with them yourself.
After you have adjusted the settings and launch options to your liking, click on Close to save them and exit the Properties window.
How to play CS:GO on Ubuntu
Now that you have downloaded and configured CS:GO on your Ubuntu system, you are ready to play it. To do this, follow these steps:
Choosing a game mode and joining a server
To launch CS:GO from your Steam library, double-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or right-click on it and select Play Game. This will open the game window and load the main menu. Here, you can choose from different game modes and options:
If you want to play online with other players, click on Play CS:GO and then choose from Official Matchmaking (which will match you with players of similar skill level and rank), Community Server Browser (which will let you browse and join servers hosted by other players or organizations), or Workshop Maps (which will let you play custom maps created by other users).
If you want to play offline with bots or friends, click on Play with Friends and then choose from Casual (which is a relaxed mode with no friendly fire or penalties), Competitive (which is a serious mode with friendly fire and penalties), Wingman (which is a 2v2 mode with shorter rounds and fewer maps), Danger Zone (which is a battle-royale mode with up to 18 players), Deathmatch (which is a free-for-all mode with unlimited respawns and weapons), Arms Race (which is a mode where you get a new weapon every time you kill an enemy), Demolition (which is a mode where you get a new weapon every round but lose it if you die), Flying Scoutsman (which is a mode where you only use sniper rifles and have low gravity), Retakes (which is a mode where one team tries to retake a bombsite from another team), Co-op Strike (which is a mode where you team up with a friend against bots in a story-driven mission), or Custom (which lets you create your own game settings).
If you want to practice your skills or explore the maps, click on Practice with Bots and then choose from Offline with Bots (which lets you play against bots with different difficulty levels), Weapons Course (which teaches you how to use different weapons and equipment), or Workshop Maps (which lets you play custom maps created by other users).
After you have chosen your game mode, click on Go or Start Local Server to join or create a server. You may have to wait for some time for the server to load or for other players to join.
Learning the basics of shooting, movement, and strategy
Once you are in a server, you will see the game screen with different elements. Here are some of them:
The cross hair is the small dot in the center of the screen that shows where you are aiming. You can adjust its size, color, and style in the game settings.
The HUD (heads-up display) is the set of icons and numbers on the edges of the screen that show your health, armor, ammo, money, time, score, and other information. You can customize the HUD in the game settings.
The radar is the small map on the top left corner of the screen that shows your location, your teammates, your enemies, and other objects. You can zoom in or out the radar by pressing + or - on the keyboard.
The buy menu is the menu that appears at the beginning of each round or when you press B on the keyboard. It allows you to buy weapons, equipment, and grenades with your money. You can also use the number keys to quickly buy items.
The scoreboard is the table that appears when you press Tab on the keyboard. It shows the names, ranks, kills, deaths, assists, and ping of all players in the server. You can also mute or report players by clicking on their names.
To play CS:GO effectively, you need to master three basic skills: shooting, movement, and strategy. Here are some tips for each skill:
Shooting: To shoot accurately, you need to control your recoil, which is the upward movement of your crosshair when you fire. To do this, you need to move your mouse down slightly as you shoot, or burst fire (shoot a few bullets at a time) instead of spraying (holding down the fire button). You also need to aim for the head or chest of your enemies, as these are the most vulnerable areas. You can practice your aim in offline mode or in aim maps from the workshop.
Movement: To move quickly and quietly, you need to use different keys and commands. To run, press W, A, S, or D on the keyboard. To walk silently, hold Shift while moving. To jump, press Spacebar. To crouch, press Ctrl. To switch weapons, press Q or use the mouse wheel. To reload, press R. To use a grenade, press 4 and then click to throw it. To plant or defuse a bomb, press E. To communicate with your teammates, press K to use voice chat or Y to use text chat.
Strategy: To win rounds and matches, you need to work with your team and follow a plan. To do this, you need to know the maps well and use them to your advantage. You also need to know when to buy or save money, when to attack or defend, when to rotate or flank, when to peek or hide, and so on. You can learn from watching professional players or tutorials online.
Improving your skills and having fun
The best way to improve your skills and have fun in CS:GO is to play regularly and try different game modes and maps. You can also join a community of players who share your interests and goals. You can find them on Steam groups, forums, Discord servers, Reddit communities, and so on. You can also watch live streams or videos of professional players or tournaments to learn from their strategies and techniques. You can also create your own content using the CS:GO Workshop tools or SDK (software development kit), which allow you to make custom maps, skins, stickers, mods, and more.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and play CS:GO on Ubuntu using Steam and Flatpak. We have also given you some tips on how to adjust the game settings and launch options to optimize its performance and compatibility with Ubuntu. We have also given you some tips on how to play CS:GO effectively and enjoyably, as well as how to improve your skills and join a community of players. We hope that this article has helped you to learn how to download and play CS:GO on Ubuntu, and that you have fun playing this amazing game. FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about CS:GO on Ubuntu:
Is CS:GO compatible with Ubuntu?Yes, CS:GO is compatible with Ubuntu and other Linux-based operating systems. You can install and run it using Steam or Flatpak, as explained in this article.
Is CS:GO free to play on Ubuntu?Yes, CS:GO is free to play on Ubuntu and other platforms. You don't need to pay anything to download or play it. However, you may need to buy some DLC or in-game items if you want to access them.
Can I play CS:GO online with other players on Ubuntu?Yes, you can play CS:GO online with other players on Ubuntu and other platforms. You just need to have a Steam account and a GSLT, as explained in this article. You can also join or create servers using the game modes and options available.
How can I improve my FPS (frames per second) in CS:GO on Ubuntu?There are several ways to improve your FPS in CS:GO on Ubuntu, such as lowering your graphics settings, using launch options, updating your drivers, closing background programs, and so on. You can find more tips online or experiment with them yourself.
How can I get help or support for CS:GO on Ubuntu?If you encounter any issues or problems while playing CS:GO on Ubuntu, you can get help or support from various sources, such as the Steam community forums, the CS:GO subreddit, the Valve support page, the Ubuntu forums, or the Flatpak website. You can also contact the developers or publishers of the game directly.
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