These skins have been known to go for absolutely absurd amount of money, all because of their one-of-a-kind nature.Īside from all of these external elements driving interest in skins themselves, Valve has also layered in some unique systems to maximize their in-game gacha system. And, if that wasn’t enough, players watching select CS:GO esports tournaments using the in-game spectator mode have a chance at earning “Souvenir” weapon skins, which are unbelievably rare, limited versions of skins that only drop during those events for in-game spectators. It’s a lot like buying the game-winning home run ball from your favorite pro baseball player, or having Michael Jordan sell you a pair of signed basketball shoes, and it lends a sort of authenticity to the entire system that other games have yet to successfully replicate. Pros will even occasionally trade their personal skins to other players for hefty sums of cash.
Seeing a pro use a specific skin on stream during an esport event is akin to a celebrity endorsement for that skin, and by extension, skins for CS:GO in general. All CS:GO pros play in competitive tournaments using their personal Steam accounts, which includes their personal configuration settings, as well as their skin inventory. It’s a confidence booster, an “I got this” feeling that resonates with everyone watching you, all because of the inherent belief that your ownership of such a luxurious skin is an indication of your dedication to the game.Īnd finally, there’s the potent marketing potential of CS:GO’s thriving esports scene. How “elite” you appear in these tense moments is an intangible, but highly satisfying thing, and nothing screams “badass” like an ultra rare butterfly knife dancing on-screen in your hands as you win the round. They can purchase keys to unlock containers with a random chance at different skins for different weapons, or they can purchase the skins directly from other players via the Steam Marketplace.
In CS:GO, players have several options at their disposal for purchasing weapon skins for all of the standard weapons in the game. The more visible or prominent an item is in-game, the more valuable it becomes. The Value of VanityĪt its core, vanity in video games is a function of visibility. What makes CS:GO’s items worth so much? Why do players place so much value on skins in the first place? Let’s break it down. Many other games are on the Steam Marketplace today, but none of them have items that are as valuable as CS:GO’s collection. The Steam Marketplace offers a sanctioned, purely digital marketplace for players looking to buy, sell or trade their Steam items with other players, and when CS:GO’s skins debuted, the Steam Marketplace exploded in popularity. When CS:GO’s skins released, they used a traditional gacha box system, with one critical addition to the formula: the Steam Marketplace.
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