The first publicly available Counter-Strike beta appeared in 1999. Minh Le and Jess Cliffe released the modification for Half-Life while Le was developing its maps, models, and gameplay systems.
The early beta was much smaller than later Counter-Strike versions, but it already established the central structure: two teams, limited lives per round, and objectives such as rescuing hostages or detonating a bomb. Community testing and feedback drove frequent updates.
Valve noticed the mod’s popularity and signed the creators in 2000. Counter-Strike subsequently became an official product and one of the most influential competitive shooters in PC gaming.
Some people date Counter-Strike’s commercial history from its retail releases, such as Counter-Strike 1.6 or Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. Those dates are later; 1999 refers specifically to the first public beta.