Nowadays, CS2 skins can hardly be called just visual additions, as they have grown to the status of real collectibles and even investment assets. Prices for some of them sometimes reach several thousand dollars. At the same time, the price is affected not only by the rarity of the skin or its design but also by the interest of pro players. In this article, we will figure out why CS2 skins sometimes cost fabulous money and how exactly top players change the balance of power in the market.
Is It Worth Buying Skins Like The Pro Players?
Buying expensive and rare skins in CS2, especially those used by pro players, is always a balance between personal preferences and market risks. On the one hand, a unique and rare skin allows you to express your individuality. On the other hand, the price of such skins can be extremely high and fluctuate due to sudden surges of interest or a decrease in popularity. Having decided to invest in expensive skins, you should be prepared for the fact that tomorrow the skin may rapidly become cheaper. It is recommended to at least conduct a CS2 (CS:GO) skin price comparison before purchasing.
The Role of Pro Players in Setting Prices For CS2 Skins
It is naive to believe that the high price tag for a particular skin is created solely by its rarity or attractive design. The recognition factor plays a very important role in the popularization of a particular skin. Recognition is closely related to the names of top eSports players.
Imagine a situation: a famous professional, for example, s1mple, with an army of thousands of fans, regularly plays with a specific skin or shows it off in his profile. Fans see this skin at decisive moments of tournaments and associate it with the successes of their idol, and their desire to have the same skin is inevitable. At the same time, the demand for this skin and its price are also inevitable.
Most pro players actively conduct personal broadcasts on popular platforms. During the stream, they can talk about their preferences, show their inventory, and discuss rare “masterpieces” from the collection. The public sees in real time how the eSportsman evaluates a particular skin, asks for advice, and studies visual details. Such PR directly fuels interest in specific skins, which also affects the average market price of the skin.
The purchase of an expensive skin by a famous eSports player instantly becomes the center of attention of the community. As soon as a pro player demonstrates the purchase of a rare skin for an impressive amount on his social networks, traders begin to look at the price and think about the future growth of the price, and interest in the skin itself increases sharply, as does its cost. Thus, the presence of such skins as AWP | Dragon Lore, AK-47 | Fire Serpent, or AK-47 | The Empress in the inventory of famous players automatically increases their reputation and demand among ordinary gamers.
It’s also worth remembering that pro players are just as passionate as everyone else. Many of them are fans of certain styles and collections. When an eSports player collects a full line of skins from one series or prefers a specific sticker manufacturer, this creates a long trail of influence. For example, among the most famous collections among pro players are Printstream and Asiimov. Asiimov skins became famous thanks to the achievements of Cold, KennyS, and s1mple in the pro scene. Printstream skins became especially popular thanks to the achievements of jL and other players.
The Impact of Stickers on Skin Prices
During major tournaments, special sticker capsules are released. Buyers can open the capsule to get a player’s autograph or a team logo. Stickers of professionals who have won a major often become collectibles. If the same sticker is pasted on a rare skin that is in the inventory of a top player, its price can skyrocket.
A classic example is the old stickers from the ESL One: Katowice 2014 tournament. Not only are they rare, but they are also closely connected with epochal events in the history of Counter-Strike. For example, the cost of the Virtus.рro (Holo) | Katowice 2014 sticker exceeds $4,000. The cost of Clan-Mystik (Holo) | Katowice 2014 can reach $5,000.
Conclusion
According to the classics, the cost of a skin in CS2 is determined by such characteristics as rarity, degree of wear, patterns, presence of rare stickers and autographs.
But the key catalyst for price growth can be the attention of a pro player to the skin. Pro players have a huge audience of fans, and therefore their interest in a certain skin cannot but cause demand for it and a price increase.
