When CS:GO first launched, the competitive features were severely lacking, to the point that many players found it easier to find competitive matches via IRC than using the in-game matchmaking facilities.
Valve was clearly aware of this, and in October 2012 a new “Queue” matchmaking system was integrated into the game. This functionality made it so much easier to join up with a group of friends and get a competitive match underway. This system has been fine-tuned multiple times since this first update, of course, but it was this initial boost to the game did wonders for its future.
Around this time, the Elo ranking system was also replaced by a Skill Group system. Once you’ve won 10 competitive matches, the m4a4 cs go game puts you into a skill group and bases its matchmaking on whatever rank you currently hold. Since this was introduced, the matchmaking system inCS:GO is now one of the best you can find in online video games to date, consistently throwing close-call clashes your way.
At the start of 2013, weapon balance in CS:GO was completely overhauled. Suddenly the feel, power and recoil of many of the weapons was altered, based on feedback from pro players.
And oh wow, was it a welcome change. Many of the more floaty weapons now felt tight and responsive, while some of the more overpowered weapons such as the P90 weren’t so ridiculous anymore. Experimenting with weapons became a rather big deal, and no longer did you find that everyone was simply using the M4, the AK and the AWP the whole time.
It wasn’t just the weapons either—the menu system was wangled to the point of no return. All of a sudden it was actually possible to find what you needed in CS:GO, including starting online matches with ease.
