ATTENTION! This article has lost its relevance after the release of the update dated 06/04/2021. All information about the differences between non-prime and prime status in a new article .

New prime status

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - Free to Play (Free version)
Old prime status in CS:GO / CS2. Relevance of the article from December 7, 2018 to June 4, 2021
What is included in free CS:GO / CS2?
What is Prime Status?
I'm already a CS:GO / CS2 player with Prime status. How will the free version of CS:GO / CS2 affect me?
Previously, I bought CS: GO, but did not activate Prime status. How will the free version of CS:GO / CS2 affect me in this case?

What is included in free CS:GO / CS2?
CS:GO / CS2 is now free

CS:GO / CS2 ( Now available for free ) is a completely complete game. New CS:GO / CS2 players will have access to all game modes, including matchmaking (competitive mode), as well as a limited drop of items and skin cases.

What is Prime status and how to get it?
CS:GO / CS2 account upgrade to Prime status

Prime Status is a game upgrade available to all CS:GO / CS2 players. When you have Prime status, you will only meet players who also have Prime status in matches. Also, Prime account holders are entitled to exclusive Prime souvenirs, item drops and skin cases.

There are two ways to upgrade your account to Prime status:

Reach rank 21 by earning XP, as well as link a phone number to your Steam account ;
Buy the CS: GO Prime Status upgrade inside the game or through the Steam Store (the price of the Prime status is 1020 rubles).




I bought CS:GO / CS2 a long time ago and I have it with Prime status. How will the free version of CS:GO / CS2 affect me?
As an existing CS:GO / CS2 Prime user, your CS:GO / CS2 achievements will not be affected. You will continue to play CS:GO / CS2 with other players who have Prime status, and you will also receive drops and skin cases from the same drop lists that are exclusive to Prime status.

In addition, as a Prime status owner, you have the opportunity to receive a new exclusive gift in the Forbidden Zone Souvenir MP5-SD | Lab Rats , this will be available until January 9, 2019. And if you've played CS:GO / CS2 in the last five years leading up to Danger Zone , you'll get a CS:GO / CS2 Loyalty Badge!

Prime status badge for coin holders 5 year veteran

I bought CS: GO a long time ago, but I did not connect Prime status . How will the free version of CS:GO / CS2 affect me?
All users who already have CS: GO, but have not connected to Prime status, are automatically upgraded to Prime status. Even if a phone was not linked to your Steam account , you will still have Prime status.



Outcome
All game modes are available both in the free CS:GO / CS2 and in the paid version of the game.
In the free version of the game, you will find a kind of HELL, consisting of endless cheaters, in particular this applies to the non-competitive mode. Why? It's simple, at least to get access to the competitive mode - you need to get the third rank. There is a chance that as long as the person who bought csgo to cheat will fill these three ranks, he will receive a VAC ban.
Yes, for the owners of prime accounts, by and large, nothing has changed, because. it is possible to play only with players who have prime.
Owners of free CS:GO / CS2 will be able to get into the "Only players with prime status" mode by reaching 21 ranks. And this is at least 3-4 months of playing with cheaters.
Important! After getting the 40th rank and its subsequent zeroing, the prime status will remain.
VALVE also promises some bonuses and souvenirs for prime account holders, which means they will release something more often to encourage people to buy prime status.