Souvenir skins in CS2 are cheaper because they lost the unique features that once made them special. Without player signatures, match details, or strong collector demand, prices have dropped. In this article, we explain what changed and whether these skins are still worth your attention.
What are Souvenir skins in CS2?
In CS2, Souvenir skins are special weapon skins connected to Major tournaments. They come with unique gold stickers, map logos, and event branding, which makes them look different from regular or StatTrak skins. You can get them by opening Souvenir Packages, which are available during Major events. To receive these packages, you usually need to own a Viewer Pass and earn tokens by watching matches or completing pick’em challenges. Souvenir skins in CS2 are tradable, so you can buy and sell them on the Steam Market or third-party websites. However, there’s one big difference: you can’t use them in Trade-Up Contracts. That means you can’t combine ten Souvenir skins to try to get a better one, like you can with regular skins. So to sum up: Souvenir skins in CS2 are tradable collectibles with exclusive looks, but they can’t be used in trade-ups – and that affects both how people see them and what they’re worth.
How did Souvenir skins work in CS:GO?
In CS:GO, Souvenir skins were a big deal – especially during Majors. You could get them by watching live tournament matches while having a Viewer Pass linked to your account. If you were lucky, you’d receive a Souvenir Package drop for a specific match. What made Souvenir skins special in CS:GO was the personal touch. Each skin had:
- Stickers of both teams that played the match.
- The event logo (e.g. “PGL Major Antwerp 2022”).
- And most importantly: a gold signature sticker of the MVP player from that round.
This made every Souvenir unique. If a player dropped 30 kills and carried his team, and you got a skin with his signature? That was something to show off. Because of that system, Souvenir skins weren’t just cosmetics – they were pieces of CS history. And some of them became really valuable, especially if they were tied to famous players, iconic matches, or rare skin collections. In short: In CS:GO, Souvenir skins were personalized, event-linked items that carried more story, emotion, and collector value than most regular skins.
What changed in CS2?
With the release of CS2, the Souvenir system was redesigned – and for many players, it lost some of its charm. The biggest change? Souvenir skins in CS2 no longer have player signature stickers. There are no gold autographs, no team vs team match details, and no MVP markings. Instead, every Souvenir skin now comes with:
- A gold tournament sticker.
- A gold map sticker.
- And a gold event sticker.
That’s it. No player names, no personal connection to a specific match. Also, the way you get Souvenir Packages is a bit more straightforward. You still need a Viewer Pass and tokens, but now you choose which match and map the Souvenir should be from. So it’s less random – but also less exciting. Another small but important change: Souvenir skins still can’t be used in Trade-Up Contracts, which limits how people use or flip them for profit. So what changed? CS2 Souvenirs are cleaner, simpler, and more controlled – but they’ve lost the unique connection to individual players and moments. And that’s part of why people value them less.
Why are Souvenir skins cheaper now?
Souvenir skins in CS2 are cheaper mainly because they’re just not as special as they used to be. In CS:GO, every Souvenir skin had a story – it came from a specific match, had stickers from the teams, and a gold signature of the MVP player. That made each drop feel unique and collectible. In CS2, all of that is gone. Now every Souvenir skin looks the same, just with generic gold stickers – no player names, no match details, no personal history. That means less emotional value, and less reason for collectors to pay extra. Another reason is supply. In CS2, you can pick the exact match and map when redeeming a Souvenir Package. This gives players more control, but it also leads to more skins of the same kind flooding the market. And when there’s more supply, prices go down. Also, without the ability to use them in Trade-Up Contracts, Souvenir skins lose a part of their practical use. You can’t turn them into something better – so fewer people buy them with that goal in mind.
Are Souvenir skins still worth collecting?
That depends on what kind of collector you are. If you’re into history and uniqueness, CS2 Souvenirs might feel a bit underwhelming. Without player signatures or specific match info, they just don’t have the same emotional value as the old CS:GO ones. But if you’re collecting for visuals or investment, there’s still some potential. Some Souvenir skins still look great – especially on iconic maps like Mirage or Dust2. And since they’re tied to Majors, they may become more valuable over time, especially if Valve changes the system again or makes some skins rare. Also, older CS:GO-era Souvenirs with player signatures are still around – and many collectors now see those as even more special, since the new system feels less personal. So are they worth collecting? Yes – but mostly for people who like the look or believe prices might rise later. Just don’t expect the same magic as before.
Will prices go up again?
It’s possible, but not guaranteed. Right now, CS2 Souvenir skins are cheaper because there’s less demand and more supply. But that could change over time. If Valve reduces how often Souvenir Packages are available, or if a certain map or collection gets removed from future Majors, those skins might become harder to find – and prices could rise. Another thing that could boost prices is nostalgia. Years from now, people might look back and want Souvenirs from the first CS2 Majors – even if they didn’t seem special at the time. Also, if Valve brings back player signatures or adds more unique elements, older Souvenirs from the current “simple” system might suddenly feel rare by comparison. But for now? Prices are likely to stay low unless something changes. So if you’re buying Souvenirs as an investment, it’s a bit of a gamble. They could go up – but don’t count on it happening fast.
Less hype, lower price
Souvenir skins in CS2 are no longer what they used to be. Without player signatures, unique match details, or strong demand from collectors, they’ve lost a big part of their appeal. Add to that easier access and no trade-up value, and it’s clear why prices have dropped. They still have their place – they look nice, they mark tournament history, and they might gain value over time. But for now, with less excitement around them, the market simply doesn’t see them as worth much. Souvenirs aren’t dead – just quieter.
