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A surprise update released by Valve has sparked outrage among Counter-Strike 2 players after a major collapse in the housing market, which has long been a pillar of the game’s economy and community.
Instead of relying on luck in the Trade-Up system, players can now offer 5 Covert items for a guaranteed knife or gloves.
This change made items that were once considered extremely rare more readily available, resulting in a sharp drop in market value in just hours.
Market trackers estimate that the prices of some rare knives and gloves dropped by as much as 40% in a single day, dropping the total value of the Counter-Strike market from around $5 billion to just $3 billion.
Valve destroyed the market overnight… my inventory lost half its value – trader on Reddit
The company seems to be aiming to rebalance the internal economy and make rare items more accessible to casual players after the housing market became a hotbed of speculation and gambling, with some housing being sold at prices exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars.
However, this decision has sparked controversy, with some seeing it as a fatal blow to investors and collectors who have held their items as a long-term investment (known as HODLing).
The shock did not only stop at the players, the change may also affect tournament sponsorships and the content industry, especially since opening boxes and trading in residences has been an important part of community interaction and streaming.
Between those who see it as a healthy market correction and those who describe it as a digital economic disaster, the fact remains that the Counter-Strike 2 housing market will never be the same.
Do you think Valve’s decision is fair or has it ruined the game’s entire economy?
