It’s been a busy month for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the critically-acclaimed online first-person shooter. A host of news stories filtered in regarding potential conflict in China over the game’s violent content, drastic — and surprising — shifts in Russian rankings, and the return of a beloved CS:GO fan event.

As part of the nation’s continued campaign against controversial video games, China took aim at CS:GO and others of its kind. After lifting a February 2019 freeze on the approval process for new video games, China’s State Administration of Radio and Television (SART) implemented new content bans that could hinder the ability to play CS:GO in the nation. This was the second freeze on the approval process in 12 months.

According to TechCrunch, moving forward, prohibited content includes anything that depicts blood of any kind and corpses. Before a publisher can sell a new video game in China, it must receive a license from SART. It’s up to the administration to approve or deny requests to publish games, which means every new title is scrutinized to ensure it meets national standards.

To abide by the new regulations imposed by SART, Perfect World, CS:GO’s China-based publisher, will be required to have all dead bodies and any instances of blood removed, effectively neutering the title.

If the content remains, CS:GO will effectively be banned from being sold in China.

What’s the Deal?

This isn’t the first time games like CS:GO were targeted by strict Chinese regulations. In 2017, a series of weapon skins were censored, and in 2000, all console games were banned over fears of the negative effects on developing children.

If China bans CS:GO it likely won’t be too much of an issue because Valve can afford to adjust the game to meet the new content standards, smaller publishers may be at risk. As TechCrunch points out, smaller publishers may not be able to fund the updates needed to remove the graphic content.

That could mean missing out on China’s $12.5 billion PC gaming industry.

Russia’s Shifting Player Tier List

Shifting tones and heading north of China into Russia, there was a significant change in the CS:GO Russian rankings after Gambit Youngsters battled for victory in Denmark. The newer team of Gambit Esports, which includes players nafany, supra, sh1ro, interz, Porya, and F_1N, took part in its first LAN tournament at the Copenhagen Games 2019. On the main stage, they went 0-3, which gave them the edge they needed to rise in the rankings.

While exciting for the younger team, it’s a bittersweet moment for the parent organization. Currently, Youngsters sits at fourth in the CS:GO Russian rankings while Gambit hovers at seventh.

Topping both teams and the rest of the Russian rank is forZe. With an 82% win rate, forZe rose to the peak of the Russian CS:GO bracket with 96 points.

Trailing behind with only 66 points and a win rate of 56% is Team Spirit.

Sitting at the bottom of the pack is AurumFive with two points and Defying Gravity with none.

Beyond the Summit Returns

Rounding out the most recent CS:GO news was an anticipated announcement from Beyond the Summit, an esports production company. The company revealed that it will continue its popular tournament series with cs_summit 4. Taking place from May 23 to 26, 2019, cs_summit 4 will have the same $150,000 prize as prior years, though its team count will drop from eight to six.

Along with the announcement, Beyond the Summit confirmed the six teams competing for the monetary prize — NRG, Team Liquid, ENCE, Renegades, Team Vitality, and Ghost Gaming.

Beyond the Summit will return cs_summit to Los Angeles, CA, the stomping ground for all three previous events. NRG is the returning champion of cs_summit 3 and will once again go up against Ghost Gaming, which finished 5-6th during the 2018 event.