Except for a couple of minor modifications, the CSGO logo has remained virtually unchanged since it was introduced in 2012. The logo has its roots in the emblem of its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Source.
Meaning and history
Counter-Strike was originally created as a mod for Half-Life. The CS:GO version is the sequel to Counter-Strike: Source. It was developed by Valve Corporation and was released globally in 2012. The closed beta was launched a year earlier.
Symbol
The core element of the emblem is a man with a gun. Judging from his posture, most likely, he is not just holding the gun, but shooting or aiming it. The man is wearing a helmet. He looks almost as the man on the emblem of Counter-Strike: Source, yet if you take a closer look, you will definitely notice that they are not identical. The soldier on the Counter Strike:Global Offensive logo seems to wear more weapons around his waist.
On the left, there are the letters “CS”, while the “GO” text is placed on the right. The old CSGO logo looked pretty much the same, except for the typeface, which resembled the one used on the Counter-Strike: Source logo.
Full emblem
In the full version, the abbreviations “CS” and “GO” are replaced with the words “Counter” and “Strike” respectively, while the lettering “Global Offensive,” in smaller letters, is positioned below “Strike.” The full version is more recognizable than the short one, yet the “Global Offensive” text is so small that it is hardly legible unless the logo is very large.
Font
The typeface is a sans serif one with half-rounded finals. The letterforms seem to be based on the square shape. The font of the old logo was slightly different, which can be clearly seen on the letter “C.”
Color
In case of a dark background, the CS:GO logo is given in white. If the background is white, the logotype is dark grey.