How to Play CS:GO with Friends Offline: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to frag your friends in CS:GO without an internet connection? It’s totally doable! The key is setting up a local area network (LAN) or utilizing your computer as a hotspot. This article will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you and your buddies can enjoy classic CS:GO action, even when the internet is down.

Setting Up an Offline CS:GO Session with Friends

Here’s the lowdown on playing CS:GO offline with your friends, encompassing a few methods:

The Hotspot Method (No Router Required): This is ideal if you don’t have a router readily available. One of you will act as the host, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot for everyone to connect to.
- Host Setup:
  - On the host computer (the one with the best specs is recommended), open the Windows settings and create a mobile hotspot. Note down the network name and password.
  - Launch Steam and put it in Offline Mode (Steam > Go Offline).
  - Start CS:GO in Offline with Bots mode. Choose the map and game type.
  - Open the console by pressing the ~ key (the key above the TAB key, to the left of the number 1). If the console doesn’t open, you need to enable it in the game settings (Settings > Game Settings > Enable Developer Console).
  - Type status in the console and press Enter. Look for your IPv4 address. It will resemble something like 192.168.137.1. This is the host’s local IP address that your friends will need to connect.
- Client Setup (Friends Joining):
  - On each of the other computers, connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the host.
  - Launch Steam and put it in Offline Mode.
  - Open CS:GO.
  - Open the console (~ key).
  - Type connect [host's IPv4 address] (e.g., connect 192.168.137.1) and press Enter.
The LAN Method (Router Required): This method offers a potentially more stable connection as all devices connect to the router.
- Connecting to the LAN: Ensure all computers are connected to the same router, either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables.
- Host Setup: Follow the same steps as the hotspot method, starting from putting Steam in Offline Mode and launching CS:GO. The process of getting IPv4 address is same as above.
- Client Setup (Friends Joining): The clients follow the same process to connect to the host.
Dedicated Server (Advanced Users): For a more controlled environment and potentially better performance, you can set up a dedicated CS:GO server on one of your computers. This is a more technical process, requiring some familiarity with command-line interfaces and server configuration. Valve provides documentation on how to set up a dedicated CS:GO server here.

Important Considerations

Steam Accounts: Everyone needs a legitimate Steam account with CS:GO installed.
Firewall Issues: Firewalls can sometimes block connections. Temporarily disable firewalls on all computers or configure them to allow CS:GO traffic.
IP Address Consistency: The host’s IPv4 address might change each time the hotspot or network connection is restarted. Always double-check the IP address before your friends try to connect.
Map Availability: Ensure all players have the same maps installed. If not, the host may need to copy the map files to the other players’ CS:GO directories.
Performance: The host computer’s performance is critical, especially when acting as a hotspot. Make sure it has enough processing power and RAM to handle the game for everyone.

Offline CS:GO Fun Beyond the Basics

Once you’ve got your offline session running, here are some tips to maximize the fun:

Experiment with Bots: Add bots to fill out the teams if you don’t have enough players. Use the bot_add, bot_add_t, and bot_add_ct commands in the console to add bots to the Terrorist or Counter-Terrorist teams. You can also control the bot difficulty with commands like bot_difficulty 0 (easy) to bot_difficulty 3 (expert).
Custom Game Modes: Explore different game modes beyond the standard Competitive or Casual. You can find community-created game modes online and install them on your server.
Practice Your Skills: Use the offline environment to practice your aim, movement, and grenade throws without the pressure of online matches.
Host a Tournament: Create your own offline tournament with custom rules and prizes!
Learn Together: Playing offline provides a great opportunity for friends to learn the game together, share tips, and improve their skills in a relaxed and supportive environment. The Games Learning Society focuses on how games can be effectively used for learning, making your offline CS:GO sessions even more valuable for skill development. You can find more about them at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some commonly asked questions about playing CS:GO offline with friends:

Can I play CS:GO offline with friends?

Yes, absolutely! You can play CS:GO offline with friends by setting up a local network (LAN) or using a mobile hotspot.

How do I create a local server for CS:GO?

The easiest way is to use the hotspot method described above. Alternatively, you can use the LAN method, where all computers connect to the same router. For advanced users, you can set up a dedicated server.

Do all players need to own CS:GO to play offline?

Yes, each player needs to have a legitimate copy of CS:GO installed on their Steam account.

Can I play with bots offline in CS:GO?

Yes, you can play with bots in offline mode. When you start a game in “Offline with Bots” mode, you can add or remove bots using console commands.

How do I add bots to a CS:GO offline game?

Open the console (~ key) and type bot_add to add a bot to a random team. Use bot_add_t to add a bot to the Terrorist team and bot_add_ct to add a bot to the Counter-Terrorist team.

How do I change the difficulty of bots in CS:GO?

Use the command bot_difficulty [level] in the console, where [level] is a number from 0 (easy) to 3 (expert).

What if my friends can’t connect to my offline CS:GO game?

First, make sure everyone is connected to the same network (hotspot or LAN). Then, double-check the host’s IPv4 address. Ensure that firewalls are disabled or configured to allow CS:GO traffic.

How do I find my IPv4 address in CS:GO?

Open the console (~ key) in the host computer and type status. Look for the line that starts with “IP address :”, and the IPv4 address will be listed there.

Can I use custom maps in offline CS:GO games?

Yes, you can use custom maps, but all players need to have the same map files installed in their CS:GO directory.

Is it possible to play CS2 offline?

CS2 has offline features that are used to learn how to use guns and grenades; also all other game modes can be played offline with bots.

How do I make a private lobby in CS2?

From the “Play” menu, navigate to the “Matchmaking” tab, and then find the “Private Matchmaking” mini-tab. This option may be unavailable for new players or profiles that haven’t played enough games of CS2.

How do I make a private server in CS2?

You need to install and configure the CS2 Dedicated Server using SteamCMD. You’ll also need to generate a server token and open the necessary ports. This process requires some technical knowledge.

Is CS:GO free offline?

CS:GO is free to play, and the free edition lets you play against bots offline. You can also spectate major-league multiplayer matches.

Can I practice with bots in CSGO?

Yes, you can practice with bots in CS:GO by starting an offline game and selecting “Practice With Bots” from the game menu.

What is the command to kick bots in CS:GO?

First, type mp_limitteams 1 and mp_autoteambalance 0 in the console to prevent bots from rejoining. Then, type bot_kick to kick all bots from the game.

By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you can easily set up and enjoy offline CS:GO matches with your friends.

How to play CS:GO with friends offline?