Since the introduction of cases in Counter-Strike, the mechanic has become an integral part of the gaming experience, creating a unique combination of excitement, collecting, and visual style. With the release of CS2, the process of opening cases has undergone significant changes, both visually and in the perception of players. Improved graphics, reworked animations, and updated physics made opening cases even more exciting. In this article, we will trace how case opening websites have evolved from the days of CS:GO to modern CS2, and what has changed in the perception and culture around it.
Why Did the Case Economy Become Popular?
If you turn back the clock ten years, CS:GO was quietly delighting players with good gameplay until Valve came up with such a thing as cases. Back then, no one really understood that it would be a billion-dollar business. Players just had fun opening cases and getting skins.
But then everything changed. Third-party marketplaces gradually began to appear, and players received rare skins. At the start of 2023, Valve announced CS2, and even more hype began on the market. Case sales all over the world increased; they were bought, sold, and resold, hoping that the prices would fly into space. And they did! In April 2023, all records were broken: 50.3 million cases in a month.
Both hype and excitement fueled prices. Cases turned from just a fun element of the game into an investment asset. That’s the CS2 case economy — fickle and sometimes crazy.
How the Case Market Works: Platforms, Prices, and Commissions
If you thought that everything is limited to the Steam Market, then you are wrong. Steam is, of course, the most official, but also the most unprofitable platform for players. The commission there is high — 15%. And the most unpleasant thing is that the player cannot withdraw money for other needs. Everything that he earned will remain within the Valve ecosystem.
But now there are many alternatives that offer not only low commissions or none, but also a larger selection of cases and skins, as well as promotions and bonuses.
There is only one conclusion: if you care about earning money on cases, Steam is the most expensive option. Third-party platforms are more attractive, but you should approach their choice responsibly.
What Influences the Price of Cases, and Should We Expect Growth?
The cost of cases can change very quickly. The fastest growth was in 2023: Dreams & Nightmares jumped from 70 cents to two bucks. And Danger Zone grew sixfold.
But all this hype gradually subsided. In 2024, the market became calmer. The volume of case openings fell from about 400 million to about 304 million.
However, rare cases continue to grow in price. Old cases like Bravo now cost about $50-100 apiece. But this is roulette: you can guess and make money, or you can buy at the peak and end up in the red if the market sags.
By the way, rarity greatly affects the price. The older and rarer the case is, the more expensive it is. Well, the presence of expensive skins inside also affects. For example, Fracture Case is still loved by everyone for Desert Eagle | Printstream.
Is It Possible to Make Money by Opening Cases?
Before you dive into buying and opening CS2 cases, you need to understand a simple thing: CS2 cases are actually a roulette where chance plays a big role. This is definitely not a stable and reliable source of rare and expensive skins. Valve does not disclose the exact drop rates, but the community has already made approximate calculations. The chance of getting a Covert rare skin is about 0.26%, that is, 1 in 385. And the chance of getting a knife or gloves is even smaller — about 1 in 400.
To successfully open cases, you should know the drop chances of skins, study the statistics for certain cases, and choose a strategy.
Wrapping It Up
Opening cases in CS2 is no longer just a way to get a skin, but a full-fledged visual and emotional experience. The evolution of this system reflects the overall development of the game and the increasing demands of the community: from a simple lottery to a well-thought-out, spectacular mechanic that evokes real emotions. Today, opening cases has become part of the content, an element of interaction with the audience, and even an entry point into the CS2 economy. And although the chance of getting a rare drop is still low, the atmosphere of the process itself has made it a cult part of Counter-Strike 2, which continues to evolve along with the game.
