win.gg
Win.gg Valorant CSGO is a “joke” next to Valorant’s difficulty, says shroud

CSGO is a "joke" next to Valorant's difficulty, says shroud

Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti Published 26/07/2022
shroud MMO

The ceaseless comparisons between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant aren’t stopping soon. Micheal “shroud” Grzesiek has fanned the old discussion again, calling CSGO a joke compared to Riot’s shooter. 

Before Valorant entered the fray, CSGO ruled tactical shooters. Riot’s take on the genre was transformative and provided Counter-Strike with its first real competitor. While players have many hot takes on which is better, shroud’s word has weightage due to his pro experience and willingness to play a wide variety of games. 

The veteran previously stated that CSGO may be a bit more complex but since moving to pro play in Valorant, he’s doing an about-face on that take. 

Shroud says CSGO is a joke compared to Valorant 

shroud Valorant CSGO

While playing Valorant on stream, shroud touched on the controversial Valorant vs CSGO debate. Comparing both games, he claimed that Valorant is just harder and makes CSGO look like a joke. 

In 2021, shroud declared that CSGO’s learning curve feels higher because winning without practicing lineups is tricky. You need to know the best flashes, smokes, and molotovs to come out on top in high-level games. But it seems like his recent career bounce back has changed his opinion about Valorant. 19 agents and a professional Valorant career later, the streamer thinks CSGO feels like a joke. 

“CS looks like a joke compared to this game, I am telling you. There’s no sugar coating. The game is just hard,” shroud said. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho08sydd-V8

However, shroud has an explanation for his controversial statement. The former CSGO pro elaborated that Valorant may be hard to compete in because of the low skill ceiling. He’s previously mentioned on his stream that everyone is highly skilled in Valorant, which makes it more stressful. He doubled down on his claim, saying that maybe everyone’s good because the game is arguably easier. 

Whatever the case, Valorant and CSGO might have been similar in the first few months of the release, but both games differ in many ways now. The heavy focus on character skills in Valorant makes it less aim-focused than CSGO. Aim is still important in Valorant, but abilities have a more significant impact at a higher level of play. 

These discrepancies make both games challenging in their own way. Someone with crisp aim may not be able to have as much of an impact due to powerful abilities. Meanwhile, a Valorant pro may find CSGO’s complex shooting and movement nerve-wracking. 

Fariha Bhatti Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile
Read Also
Nongshim RedForce vs Global Esports at VCT Pacific Stage 2: Best Betting Predictions Valorant
Nongshim RedForce vs Global Esports at VCT Pacific Stage 2: Best Betting Predictions Owen Harsono The regular season of VCT Pacific is nearing its end, as Nongshim RedForce take on Global Esports in the upper bracket final of Stage 2. This Valorant match is an incredibly important one for Global Esports, as a win here will secure them a spot at VCT Champions 2026 — the final event of the year. Here are my Nongshim RedForce vs Global Esports VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific ...
All the VCT Champions and winners so far Valorant
All the VCT Champions and winners so far Fariha Bhatti Valorant Champions Tour is one of the biggest esports events, which takes place every tail end of the year. With the 2024 season approaching, it's worth looking back at the winners of all VCT finals so far. Valorant Champions Tour filters out the best teams worldwide and then pits them against each other on the grand stage at the end of every year. Since 2021, this event's trophy has been ...
Leviatán vs MIBR at VCT Americas Stage 2: Betting Predictions and Picks Valorant
Leviatán vs MIBR at VCT Americas Stage 2: Betting Predictions and Picks Owen Harsono The top two South American organizations are set to clash in the VCT Americas Stage 2 playoffs, as LEVIATAN take on MIBR for a spot in the Upper Bracket Semifinals in São Paulo. We will look closely at leading Valorant betting sites, and with that in mind, here are our LEVIATAN vs MIBR VCT Americas predictions. Tournament: VCT Americas Stage 2 Playoffs Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 ...
MIBR vs Leviatán Esports Match Preview & Predictions – Saturday 8 August Valorant
MIBR vs Leviatán Esports Match Preview & Predictions – Saturday 8 August Owen Harsono Two of the top VCT Americas squads are set to clash in Stage 2, as the star-studded roster of MIBR will take on the reigning international champions LEVIATAN in a Best of 3 series. Here are our MIBR vs LEVIATAN VCT Americas Stage 2 predictions. If you’re planning to make a trade on this match, be sure to use our Kalshi promo code WINGGPREMAR for up to $500 in bonus ...
Kalshi Promo Code for T1 vs DRX – VCT Pacific Stage 2: Get Up to $500 Bonus with “WINGGPREMAR” Valorant
Kalshi Promo Code for T1 vs DRX – VCT Pacific Stage 2: Get Up to $500 Bonus with “WINGGPREMAR” Owen Harsono This Saturday at VCT Pacific Stage 2 will see a highly anticipated South Korean derby between flagship squads T1 and KIWOOM DRX, with both teams desperately needing this win if they want to top their group. We have looked at the prediction market Kalshi app to try and make sense of what could happen — if you're planning to trade for yourself then be sure to use our Kalshi promo ...
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
Top 10 Best Valorant Players to Have Never Won an International Event Valorant
Top 10 Best Valorant Players to Have Never Won an International Event Owen Harsono We’ve seen countless talented Valorant players, but the reality is that not everyone can win an international trophy. Some are world-class players who have cracked aim and insane utility usage, but are still missing that one big win in their careers. Below, we take a look at the top 10 Valorant players who have never won a VCT Masters or Champions title. Cryocells has been one of North America’s best ...