Counter-Strike Creator Minh “Gooseman” Le: “I’m a Big Fan of Russian Culture”

Counter-Strike co-creator Minh “Gooseman” Le has again highlighted the strong influence of Russian culture, cinema and special forces on the early development of the legendary FPS series. Speaking in a new interview with Russian outlet Ink — recapped by Cybersport.ru — Le said he has “always been a big fan of Russian culture” and enjoys engaging with the Russian-speaking community.

Russian Films, Games, and Special Forces Inspired CS

Le pointed to classic Russian movies like “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” as early creative inspirations, praising director Timur Bekmambetov. He also emphasized that real counter-terror units from France, Germany and Russia shaped the tone of the original Counter-Strike.

The developer added that he regularly plays Russian-made titles such as Escape from Tarkov, War Thunder, and praised the worldwide success of Atomic Heart.

Praise for Russian Game Development

At Moscow International Game Week 2025, Le called Russian developers “excellent” and described local studios — especially those creating military and realism-focused simulators — as “among the best in the world.” He noted that international audiences increasingly recognize the strength of Russian game production.

Le also expressed admiration for Moscow’s Game & Animation Cluster, saying Russia has the talent and infrastructure to create a global hit.

Hockey Icons Shaped His Childhood

Le, who grew up in Canada, said his love for Russian culture partly came from following stars like Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny, calling Bure his childhood idol.

CS Esports: A New CIS Generation

The creator’s comments arrive as a new wave of CIS stars dominates CS2. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets of Team Spirit continues to be one of the game’s top performers. After the Esports World Cup, donk said, “If we want to build an era, we have to overcome ourselves and deal with stress.” In a separate interview, he noted he’s improving and aims for even greater consistency.

Counter-Strike’s Lasting Formula

Reflecting on CS's 25-year history, Le compared the series to “football among competitive games” — easy to start, endlessly deep, and stable enough to sustain esports for decades. He believes players will still enjoy Counter-Strike 25 years from now.