On April 28, 2015, ESL announced a joint venture with the North American-based E-Sports Entertainment Association League to provide a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league with US$500,000 in total prize money in the first season between two continents.

It later expanded to fourteen teams per region and raised its prize pool to US$1,000,000, with two seasons running each year.

This ESL Pro League format, used up until 2024, was as follows: Following Valve's decision to permanently remove partnerships from the Counter-Strike esports ecosystem in 2025, the format changed once more, with the number of teams reduced back to 24 teams.

Teams qualify via their ranking in the global Valve Regional Standings, the ESL Challenger League or via auxiliary competitions.

The number next to the teams showed what positions they placed during the regular season in their respective leagues.

According to report Strife will represents Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) in ESL Pro League Season 16.

ESL also ran the Halo Championship Series in its inception and, via ESL's acquisition of Esports Engine in 2023,[40] currently operate the league with Halo Studios the game's developer.