In 2000, and brought Le and Cliffe onto their team. They released Counter-Strike as a standalone retail product (Version 1.0) later that year. Even though it was sold in its own box, the game was still technically running on the Half-Life engine. The Legacy of the GoldSrc Engine

While it was originally marketed as Half-Life: Counter-Strike , it does share the same lore. Any Half-Life references (like the Black Mesa logo or specific textures) in the original mod were primarily due to the developers reusing assets for practical reasons rather than intentional storytelling.

Half-Life, too, continues to be celebrated as a gaming classic, with a loyal following and a lasting impact on the gaming industry. The game's innovative engine and modding capabilities paved the way for countless community-created content, including Counter-Strike.