Valve Shuts Down Classic Offensive Modification [May 07, 2025, 7:43 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
The Classic Offensive Website now displays the hashtag #AllowClassicOffensive along with a message saying "Valve has requested we do not distribute Classic Offensive," a mod intended to recreate the gameplay from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (thanks Reddit). This links to a timeline showing that the run-up to launching the mod was rocky, as Steam's guidelines for allowable mods shifted along the way, despite the team being told its project would be allowed as far back as 2017. This is discussed in the Classic Offensive FAQ which raises questions about whether Valve's overall stance on modding its games has changed:
By further digging into Valve's statement: the past three decades of Valve modding, and Valve's stance on modding with the recently updated Distributing Source Engine Games / Mods guidelines, shows that they are now against general modding of their games.
While they have licenses for using some of their tools like Hammer, modding as a whole only applies to a very small list of their games and must solely be done using Source SDK 2013:
- Half-Life 2
- Team Fortress 2
Valve can at any time take action on any unlicensed mod or "skin" for any reason, this includes the Portal, Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, Left 4 Dead franchises, despite their history with modding and various websites distributing mods like GameBanana, ModDB, Nexus Mods and more.
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Pr()ZaC wrote on May 8, 2025, 11:53:All GabeN wanted was mulligatawny mods.Kxmode wrote on May 7, 2025, 23:08:You're the mod nazi!
No Mods For You! 🍲
The most exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions.
Prez wrote on May 8, 2025, 14:36:Squirmer wrote on May 8, 2025, 04:34:
Yeah I'm sure this mod is a huge threat to this obscenely wealthy company.
Typically an IP holder is almost required to fight to protect their IP with legal action lest the courts rule against them in a similar case because they allowed it previously.
I just can't recall hearing about Valve ever doing something like this before. There are dozens upon dozens of Half-Life and Portal mods hosted on their platform. I assume the difference in these is that you have to own the games on Steam for them to work, but I don't know.
Valve has previously struck out at "mods" that are just recreating an older version of their game.
They don't mind mods and tweaks to existing games, they don't mind total conversions... they do mind recreating one of their games, especially to reintroduce aspects that have been changed or removed and using all the same assets.
Squirmer wrote on May 8, 2025, 04:34:
Yeah I'm sure this mod is a huge threat to this obscenely wealthy company.
Typically an IP holder is almost required to fight to protect their IP with legal action lest the courts rule against them in a similar case because they allowed it previously.
I just can't recall hearing about Valve ever doing something like this before. There are dozens upon dozens of Half-Life and Portal mods hosted on their platform. I assume the difference in these is that you have to own the games on Steam for them to work, but I don't know.
"We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far."
"Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
"Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
Re: Valve Shuts Down Classic Offensive Modification
May 8, 2025, 12:19
May 8, 2025, 12:19
It’s also an opportunity for Valve to learn more about the market.
If a mod of your game is seriously starting to impact the sales of your game, maybe think about what you can do to cater to that under-served part of the market. If they don’t have a mod of your game to play, they’ll go to a competitor.
Sales wise, piracy aside, they would need to own the game in order to mod it - so you already have the sale as well.
Also, once you’ve lost them to a pirated version of your game, your input on their use of mods becomes irrelevant to them.
Hopefully the over zealous get reigned in.
If a mod of your game is seriously starting to impact the sales of your game, maybe think about what you can do to cater to that under-served part of the market. If they don’t have a mod of your game to play, they’ll go to a competitor.
Sales wise, piracy aside, they would need to own the game in order to mod it - so you already have the sale as well.
Also, once you’ve lost them to a pirated version of your game, your input on their use of mods becomes irrelevant to them.
Hopefully the over zealous get reigned in.
I should be coding.
Kxmode wrote on May 7, 2025, 23:08:You're the mod nazi!
No Mods For You! 🍲
I'm trying to recall what even made CS GO 1 all that much different than 2 besides the graphics... CSGO2 if I recall, was a nice polish and further refinement of the game and this was coming from a hardcore Counter Strike player coming from the beta days. Sure, a lot of people hate change, but sometimes once you finally adapt to it, you realize it's hard to go back and for good reason.
Re: Valve Shuts Down Classic Offensive Modification
May 8, 2025, 06:37
May 8, 2025, 06:37
Riahderymnmaddog wrote on May 7, 2025, 23:40:
Damn, does this mean I can't create an unreal engine asset pack and resell it for $100 as a complete game with editor of unlimited potential?
They were selling the mod?
This comment was edited on May 8, 2025, 06:58.
Yeah I'm sure this mod is a huge threat to this obscenely wealthy company.
Re: Valve Shuts Down Classic Offensive Modification
May 7, 2025, 23:40
May 7, 2025, 23:40
Damn, does this mean I can't create an unreal engine asset pack and resell it for $100 as a complete game with editor of unlimited potential?
No Mods For You! 🍲
The most exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions.
"Classic Offensive has always been a statement about the current state of Counter-Strike"
And they wonder why Valve doesn't want them to release the project. I respect modders and I'm never happy about companies tearing down the work of people who are passionate about games, but at the same time you have to acknowledge that whether or not you get to use someone else's IP is not something you truly have a say in. It's a privilege that Valve and any other company is granting you, not necessarily a right. Most people and entities don't care how people use their stuff, but this? These guys pretty much directly said "We don't like this game, we're going to use its assets to make a direct competitor to it."
Why are they surprised that Valve isn't happy with them? They're not obligated to put up with them. The whole point of Valve letting anyone use their assets for game creation is to encourage creativity and just see what people will make. These guys are causing that decision to be a problem. This isn't the end of modding Valve games forever, but it's definitely a sign that you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you.
And they wonder why Valve doesn't want them to release the project. I respect modders and I'm never happy about companies tearing down the work of people who are passionate about games, but at the same time you have to acknowledge that whether or not you get to use someone else's IP is not something you truly have a say in. It's a privilege that Valve and any other company is granting you, not necessarily a right. Most people and entities don't care how people use their stuff, but this? These guys pretty much directly said "We don't like this game, we're going to use its assets to make a direct competitor to it."
Why are they surprised that Valve isn't happy with them? They're not obligated to put up with them. The whole point of Valve letting anyone use their assets for game creation is to encourage creativity and just see what people will make. These guys are causing that decision to be a problem. This isn't the end of modding Valve games forever, but it's definitely a sign that you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you.
So valve pulling a Take-Two/Rock*/nintendo. Not surprised. 
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