A digital accessory for a video game gun sold for more than $1 million on Wednesday, brokers said, making it one of the largest purchases of its kind ever.
According to a broker, an anonymous buyer has purchased a digital enhancement (known as a skin) for Counter-Strike 2 for $1 million, beating two rival bids. The rare gun accessory features wooden details and a blue and yellow tie-dye design.
“People look at this and think, 'Oh, that's money laundering,'” said Oliver Berenzdorf, who runs the site SkinBid.com, which brokered the payment. He noted that the payment had all the proper anti-money laundering safeguards in place. “In fact, there were contracts and everything in place, and it was a very legitimate transaction, just like selling anything else.”
Sam Alexander, the seller's broker, who declined to be named, confirmed details of the sale.
Digital goods from video games now drive a $184 billion industry: Roblox players spent $924 million last quarter on virtual currency and items to dress up their avatars; Counter-Strike skins are often sourced through third-party marketplaces.
Like cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens known as NFTs, Counter-Strike 2 gun skins can be the subject of frenzied market speculation. But unlike those digital assets, gamers like to brag about gun skins, which have obvious utility. Players can show off their gun skins in Counter-Strike 2 in front of crowds of rival players, or use them to bet on the outcome of e-sports matches.
According to Pricempire.com, which tracks sales, the average price of mid-level skins has increased 69% since 2022. Valve, the maker of Counter-Strike 2, introduced these items in 2013.
News of the sale was first reported by gaming industry influencer Jake Lackey, and brokers said the parties involved signed non-disclosure agreements to keep specifics about the final price from being made public.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
