Head to Head: CSGO vs PUBG

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and PUBG: Battlegrounds are among the best battle royale games around. Since being released in 2021, Counter-Strike has become one of the most popular first-person shooters on the planet. It regularly amasses more than 24 million active monthly users, while this classic shooter remains a firm fixture of the professional esports circuit.

PUBG is a relatively new arrival to the new scene, with the first version of this free-to-play game launching in 2017. However, this dynamic battle royale title quickly attracted legions of fans. Today, the game brings in more than 500 million in any given month. Are you new to both and unsure of which one to try first? Below, we explore some key factors to help you weigh up your options.

Which Game Performs Better?

If you’re looking for reliability and smooth performance, CS:GO is arguably the better option. This is largely down to the fact it’s a more established game. In the decade since its original release, CS:GO has undergone countless modifications and updates to make the game more compatible with a broader range of laptops and PC hardware.

As PUBG is still a fairly new game, it suffers from considerable teething issues. When first released, PUBG suffered from numerous bugs that made it a poor fit with most PCs. Admittedly, PUBG Corporation has gone to great efforts to improve performance across device types, pareticularly consoles. However, you’re strictly a PC player, CS:GO is a better choice than PUBG.

How Accessible is Gameplay?

Required skill level will play a big part in which game you ultimately prefer. This is even more important if you’re eyeing up a career as a professional esports player. CS:GO is fairly accessible for most players. A typical Counter-Strike match is restricted to a fairly tight virtual location. Meanwhile, the team-based approach to combat makes it easier for beginners to get to grips with the basics, while more experienced participants shoulder more challenging aspects of gameplay. CS:GO also benefits from an established online community. You won’t struggle to find in-depth gameplay guides and strategy tips to help you quickly master the fundamentals of Counter-Strike.

At first glance, PUBG seems like a fairly straightforward game. You have more flexibility when it comes to choosing your spawning location. You also have a range of gameplay modes to choose from, including solo and squad-based combat. However, PUBG presents more of a challenge to players. Like any good battle royale game, PUBG involves you taking on a tidal wave of enemies. There’s some scope for strategy here. If you’re lacking skill in combat, it might make more sense to evade the attention of combatants. However, many newcomers to PUBG find the odds of coming out on top insurmountable.

How Many People Are Playing?

If you’re always eager for a fresh challenge, it’s worth paying attention to player numbers. Although PUBG brings in more players than CS:GO in any given month, the two games generally boast similar rates when it comes to concurrent players. If you’re hoping for consistent matchups with players at a similar skill level, your best bet is CS:GO. The player ranking structure makes it far easier to do battle with fellow players of similar proficiency.

Pro-Level Prospects

Planning on a career in esports? While both PUBG and CS:GO are firm fixtures of competitive gaming, it’s Valve’s classic first-person shooter that’s the real sweetheart of the pro-level scene. This epic shooter is one of the key reasons why competitive esports has taken off in recent years and the game remains a staple of most major tournaments. There’s no shortage of prospects for PUBG players, but if you’re angling for a profitable career in lucrative leagues, Counter-Strike is by far the better option. If you’re serious about a career as a professional esports player, make sure you’re keeping your ear to the ground when it comes to tournament performance and the latest CSGO live score news.