Why are CS2 skins so expensive?

Ever since Bethesda introduced the Horse Armor Pack for Oblivion in 2006, in-game cosmetics have slowly taken over the gaming industry. While most games sell skins in their own shops, with prices determined by the developers themselves, Valve’s flagship esports title, Counter-Strike, takes a characteristically hands-off approach. So with a fully formed, player-driven economy, supply and demand mechanisms, and more, here’s why CS2 skins cost so much.

Why are CS2 skins so expensive?

Put simply, CS2 skins are expensive because their prices are set by players, not Valve. Unlike in other games, where skins are sold at a fixed price set at the developers’ whim, every CS2 skin has its price tag determined by a genuine supply-and-demand marketplace. If a player (or collector) is willing to pay a million dollars for a particular knife, then that’s the market value for that skin going forward.