CS:GO: facts about skins

“Skins” in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), like in many other games, are cosmetic enhancements that allow players to customize their in-game weapons and equipment. 

 

Here are some interesting facts about CS:GO skins:

 

1. They are purely cosmetic: Skins in CS:GO do not enhance the performance of the weapons in any way. They are purely cosmetic and provide a way for players to personalize their gameplay experience.
2. Value: Some skins can be extremely valuable, selling for thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars on the Steam Marketplace or third-party websites. Factors that contribute to a skin’s value include its rarity, condition (from “Battle-Scarred” to “Factory New”), and whether or not it is a “StatTrak” version, which tracks the number of kills made with that weapon.
3. Skin Rarity: Skins come in different rarities, which are depicted by their color. From least rare to most rare, they are: Consumer Grade (White), Industrial Grade (Light blue), Mil-Spec (Dark blue), Restricted (Purple), Classified (Pinkish Purple), Covert (Red), and Contraband (Discontinued skins, Orange). There’s also Gold, which is reserved for knives and gloves.
4. Introduction: Skins were introduced to CS:GO with the “Arms Deal” update in August 2013. This update also introduced two new weapon cases, each of which had nine unique skins for different weapons, plus a chance to find a rare knife skin.
5. Creation of Skins: While many skins are developed by the game’s developer, Valve, others are created by members of the CS:GO community. Some of the skins created by community members are added to the game through updates. The creators of these skins earn a portion of the profits made from their sales.
6. Weapon Cases: Skins are most commonly acquired through weapon cases, which are opened using keys purchased with real money. Each case contains a variety of possible skins, and the skin you receive is selected at random when the case is opened. The probability of getting a higher rarity skin is much lower than that of getting a lower rarity skin.
7. Marketplace: There’s a vibrant economy around CS:GO skins, with players buying, selling, and trading them both on the Steam Marketplace and third-party websites.
8. Knives: Some of the most sought-after and expensive skins in CS:GO are for knives. These skins are exceedingly rare and have become a status symbol within the CS:GO community.
9. Stickers: Apart from skins, players can also add stickers to their weapons to further customize them. Stickers can be acquired in the same way as skins.

 

Remember to always be cautious when dealing with third-party websites or individual sellers to avoid scams or other security issues.

When did skins appear in CS:GO

 

Skins were introduced to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) with the “Arms Deal” update, which was released on August 13, 2013. This update brought a whole new level of customization to the game, allowing players to visually alter their weapons with a variety of skins. This update also introduced the concept of weapon cases and keys, a system that allows players to acquire new skins.

 

What makes skins valuable?

 

The value of skins in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is determined by a variety of factors:

 

1. Rarity: Some skins are rarer than others. The drop rate for certain skins is much lower, making them harder to come by. As such, these skins can be more valuable.
2. Condition: The condition of a skin can also impact its value. A skin’s condition ranges from “Battle-Scarred” (the lowest) to “Factory New” (the highest). The better the condition, the more valuable the skin.
3. Demand: Like any market, the value of a skin can be affected by how much demand there is for it. Even if a skin is not particularly rare, if it’s popular among players, it can still be valuable.
4. “StatTrak” versions: Some skins are “StatTrak” versions, which keep a record of the number of kills a player has made with that weapon. These skins are usually more valuable than their non-StatTrak counterparts.
5. Uniqueness: Skins that were part of special events, promotions, or are no longer available (Contraband rarity) can also be more valuable due to their uniqueness.
6. Exterior quality: Besides the overall condition, skins have a so-called “float” value, indicating their wear-and-tear level. This float value ranges from 0 (no wear, perfect condition) to 1 (fully worn). Skins with lower float values, closer to zero, are more valuable.
7. Stickers: Some skins may have stickers applied to them. Certain rare stickers or the perfect placement of stickers can increase the value of a skin.

 

It’s worth noting that the value of skins can be very volatile and subject to change based on shifts in demand, rarity, and the overall market for skins.

 

Are CS:GO skins “wearing out”?

 

No, CS:GO skins do not “wear out” or degrade over time or through use in the game. The condition of a skin, represented as a “float” value ranging from 0 (no wear, perfect condition) to 1 (fully worn), is determined when the skin is initially obtained and does not change.

The terms like “Factory New”, “Minimal Wear”, “Field-Tested”, “Well-Worn”, and “Battle-Scarred” are used to describe the wear level of a skin, but these are static attributes. Once a player has a skin, its appearance will not deteriorate further, regardless of how much they use the weapon in games.

In other words, a “Battle-Scarred” skin won’t ever improve to “Well-Worn” or degrade further, and a “Factory New” skin will always stay in its pristine condition, no matter how much it’s used. The wear levels purely describe the aesthetic appearance of the skin and do not reflect any form of in-game performance.