win.gg
Win.gg Valorant shroud says he prefers Valorant skins, calls CSGO skins a “joke”

shroud says he prefers Valorant skins, calls CSGO skins a "joke"

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 19/09/2021

Skins have become a huge part of some of the biggest first-person shooters, but Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant go in very different directions with their respective skins. And this has produced some strong opinions on which skins are better.

Some prefer one game’s aesthetics while others prefer the opposite, and Michael “shroud” Grzesiek has made his own tastes known. While the popular streamer is known as a former member of Cloud9’s pro CSGO roster, shroud prefers the look and feel of Valorant skins to the skins in CSGO.

“For sure Valorant,” shroud responded when asked which game’s skins he preferred. “You look at CSGO skins now and you just can’t believe it, it’s like a joke.”

It’s unclear what exactly shroud sees as a “joke” when it comes to CSGO skins. He was given food in the middle of the discussion and never actually returned to his thoughts on the problems with CSGO skins.

How do you get CSGO skins?

CSGO skins can normally be obtained in one of three ways. Players have the chance of getting a randomly dropped item in CSGO after playing a game, skins included. They can also obtain them by opening loot boxes or by buying them from other players through the Steam Community Market. Some in-game events can also offer the ability to obtain skins.

Valorant doesn’t have CSGO’s loot box approach to skins. The game sells them individually and as bundles, and also has regular seasonal battle passes.

Valorant skins are often much more elaborate than CSGO skins. In CSGO, skins are effectively a paint job on a regular gun that makes them stand out more. In Valorant, high-end skins can make guns look completely different with custom animations, such as the Elderflame set turning the guns into literal dragons.

While it’s unclear what exactly shroud dislikes about CSGO’s skins, it likely is a matter of the game’s monetization system, not the way the skins look and feel. shroud has actually been critical of Valorant’s elaborate animations and designs on its custom skins, and has questioned whether they might negatively impact the gameplay.

Can you trade Valorant skins?

There is currently no way to trade Valorant skins. The only possible way to transfer ownership of skins is to transfer an entire account, which is expressly forbidden by Riot Games.

Though loot boxes are a huge part of CSGO and many other games, most online multiplayer games don’t allow players to trade items. This is unlikely to change either, as Valve has faced serious legal trouble on multiple occasions and other publishers have faced questions from governments regarding the legality of loot boxes.

Steven Rondina Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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 ...