Shox: "I'm so sad about the state of CS right now"

32-year-old French esports player Richard "shox" Papillon shared a heartfelt post on his social media page X, reflecting on the profound impact Counter-Strike has had on his life and expressing his disappointment with the current state of the game, while reaching out to Valve.

"I started watching ScreaM's interviews, and it brought back a lot of memories that I miss dearly.

CS has given me so much: passion, friends, a wife, children, travel, team spirit... it has changed my entire life, and I cannot express my gratitude for everything it has given me.

It saddens me deeply to see the state of the game right now. Counter-Strike has been the most iconic and best shooter for over 20 years. It's not just a video game; it's something you fall in love with.

Please, Valve, for the sake of Counter-Strike, do not let us down. Do not tell us this is the beginning of the end; we never wanted CS to end, and we never will.

Counter-Strike has proven for decades that it is something special, and you can't compare it because once that fire ignites within you, you embrace it with all your heart.

Counter-Strike brings joy,

Counter-Strike brings friends,

Counter-Strike brings family,

Counter-Strike brings hope.

Remember who you are."

Papillon is one of the most decorated professional Counter-Strike players, with numerous trophies, one Major victory, and four MVP titles. He has been ranked in the top 20 players of the year four times and has earned $851,000 in prize money throughout his career.