Heist

Unreleased/Cut Content This article or section refers to unreleased or cut content and may contain inaccurate or incomplete information.

The Heist mode is a cut game mode from Counter-Strike: Source and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The mode underwent development during various versions by different developers, with its core concept changing over time.

Counter-Strike: Source

The first version of Heist mode was in development in 2006 for Counter-Strike: Source.

func_bomb_target brush entity properties

A reference to this mode can be found in the keyvalues of the func_bomb_target brush entity within the Source SDK's Hammer Editor. The specific keyvalue, related to this mode, was added in the Source SDK update on November 7, 2007. This keyvalue is non-functional, but if fixed and enabled, it allows the bomb to be planted on a wall.

Maps designed for Heist mode, which utilize this keyvalue, were discovered in the 2023 Source developer asset repository leak.

Gameplay

Counter-Strike: Source version of Heist mode combines elements of Assassination and Bomb Defusal game modes, featuring an APC that follows a predetermined route to an escape zone without direct player control. The Counter-Terrorists can win by successfully escorting the APC to the escape zone, while the Terrorists must plant a bomb on the side of the vehicle and ensure its detonation. If a Terrorist stands near the APC or plants the bomb, the vehicle comes to a halt. Victory can also be achieved by eliminating all opposing team members; however, if the bomb is planted and all Terrorists are eliminated, the round only concludes when the bomb is either defused or detonated.

Counter-Terrorists can purchase a defusal kit, which reduces the bomb defusal time from 10 seconds to 5. If the bomb is defused, the APC resumes its movement, and the round continues until either the vehicle reaches the escape zone or one of the teams is completely eliminated.

Maps

Heist maps are prefixed with ht_ and es_.

• Cobblestone
• Crash

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

The second version of the Heist mode was in development during the mid-2010s for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive by Valve game designer Matt Wood. Little confirmed information is available about this version of the mode, but it is known to have involved a money mechanic, where players could collect stacks of money. In addition to official information, other possible references to the Heist mode have been discovered in the game’s files:

• The first instance of Heist mode in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive appeared on February 7, 2013, when the release of the CS:GO SDK included the Hammer Editor, which featured a func_bomb_target brush entity ported from Source SDK.
• Later, throughout 2016 and 2017, various elements believed to be tied to Heist mode surfaced in CS:GO’s game files during updates. These included entity spawn codes for item_money, a Money Bag model, and console variables referencing "slow money". Additionally, an untextured terrorist model named Heavy Riot was found, which is based on the Heavy Phoenix model, but featuring a duffel bag similar to those used by Professionals faction.
• The latest possible reference to Heist mode surfaced with the release of the Danger Zone update. Unused “surrender” animation sequences were added to the game files and could only be found in the player models used for Danger Zone, commonly referred to as the “Jumpsuit” characters.

It is known that various assets originally developed for Heist mode were eventually repurposed for Danger Zone. Considering that early prototypes of the Battle Royale game mode for CS:GO date back to around 2015, it is entirely possible that the features described above were actually designed for Danger Zone from the outset, and may not have had any direct connection to Heist mode.

Gallery

Untextured Heavy Riot

Unused "Surrender" animation added in Danger Zone Update.

Console variables referencing "slow money"

mp_slowmoney_enabled  
mp_slowmoney_maxmultiplier  
mp_slowmoney_minmultiplier
mp_slowmoney_multiplierdisplayasbonus
mp_slowmoney_rampbias  
mp_slowmoney_rampend  
mp_slowmoney_rampstart

Trivia

Counter-Strike: Source

• There was a similar mode released in Counter-Strike Online called Battle Rush where about Counter-Terrorists had to escort and protect a captured Terrorist leader that was being extracted to a nearby airfield. The mode is a PvPvE mode (Player vs Player vs Environment) where players are still divided into CTs and Ts, where the former are tasked to destroy blocked pathway with C4s and ensure the extraction successful while Ts are to free their leader by "defusing" two of the chains that tie the leader. Both of the teams have special Bots that use rifles and grenade launchers, and players are able to use Mounted Machine Guns that are placed at certain spots in the map.