Counter-Strike creator says gaming is saturated with too many “sh*tty” money grabs

Minh Le, a key figure behind the creation of Counter-Strike, has voiced worries over the abundance of poor-quality games currently flooding the market, and the growing challenges faced by up-and-coming game developers in gaining success.

In a chat with YouTube’s DeZolance, Le outlined the significant transformations that the industry has undergone during the last twenty years.

He indicated that the gaming world now is significantly transformed compared to two decades ago, if asked about his strategies for creating a game today.

He noted that it’s become significantly more challenging due to an abundance of talented individuals creating outstanding games. The market, in fact, is flooded with numerous high-quality games.

On the other hand, he emphasized that “while there are many high-quality games available, unfortunately, it’s filled with a large number of subpar titles where developers are simply aiming for quick profits.

CS co-creator on the gaming industry today

He regretted that an abundance of games, many of which lack substance, create challenges for original and high-quality games to gain recognition. Essentially, he pointed out that exceptional games struggle to stand out amidst a vast ocean of mediocre, hastily produced games.

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Le also highlighted how marketing plays a crucial part in a game’s success nowadays, which wasn’t as important during Counter-Strike’s rise to fame. As he put it, “In those days, marketing wasn’t something I paid much attention to. It simply progressed naturally.” However, now, indeed, a good chunk of resources needs to be invested in marketing.

Even though there are difficulties, Le continues to harbor optimism that groundbreaking video games can nonetheless make their mark, using examples such as PUBG and DayZ, two games that initially started as fan-made modifications before eventually achieving widespread popularity.

He mentioned, “If a game is genuinely intriguing, it’ll catch people’s attention. Games similar to DayZ, for instance, originated from the modding community, where individuals were creating modifications.

As a gamer myself, I can’t help but reflect on how fortunate I’ve been to join the gaming world during its infancy. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for me.

To be honest, I’m not sure I could pull off a successful remake of Counter-Strike nowadays. What I am certain of is that the challenge would be significantly greater due to the intense competition involved.

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2025-03-28 15:18