Counter-Strike 1.6 is back: this is CS: Legacy, the new free remake

CS: Legacy has been officially unveiled as a fully standalone remake of Counter-Strike 1.6, developed from the ground up using Valve's official Source Engine SDK. The announcement was accompanied by a reveal trailer now available on YouTube.

What is CS: Legacy?

This is a direct evolution of CSPromod, created by the same team, and represents a modern reimagining of the classic CS 1.6. Unlike other similar projects, CS: Legacy does not reuse any original game files, but instead offers:

• 100% custom graphics, sound, and code
• Source SDK 2013 engine with major rewrites to rendering, shaders, and internal systems
• No monetization: the game will be completely free with no microtransactions
• Does not require any Valve game files to run

A transparent and legal project

The team has confirmed that CS: Legacy operates under Valve's public non-commercial SDK license. This means:

✅ The development is fully independent and non-commercial.
✅ All code and assets are original, with no use of files from the original CS.
✅ Distribution on Steam is viable under the official SDK terms.
✅ The team is in communication with Valve and awaiting validation for release on the platform.

Currently, they are preparing the Steam page through SteamWorks, which could take a few additional months while Valve completes its review.

Key differences from other projects

The news comes shortly after the announcement of the cancellation of Classic Offensive, another project based on the original CS. While both aimed to recreate the classic experience, CS: Legacy stands out with its fully independent approach, with systems, graphics, and assets built entirely from scratch.

The team also expressed their respect and appreciation for Classic Offensive, acknowledging the work done and maintaining direct contact with its lead developer, Zool.

What’s next

CS: Legacy is still in active development. In addition to the Steam validation process, a new public video featuring gameplay is in the works to showcase more of the experience this remake will offer.