CS:GO

I’m not inherently against charms, but I don’t think they belong in a game like CS.


A lot of the charms look incredibly childish to me, and I don't mean that in a demeaning way. I don't think that people who play games like Fortnite and Valorant, which are catered to younger audiences, are "inferior" or dumb or whatever elitist shit some people say. Basically every other big competitive game– Valorant, Overwatch, Fortnite, etc is mostly geared to a teenage/young adult audience. And that's fine. There's literally nothing wrong with that. Everyone deserves a game that caters to them. But CS (and maybe R6? not sure) is really the only competitve esports game I can think of that caters to adults. It's incredibly unique in not just that way, but also in the way the game's mechanics work, how the esport scene works, etc. CS is one of a kind and always has been for me personally, and I don't want it to become more like other games in these ways. I don't want to see CS' general vibe/appeal become sanitized like so many other games. Are we going to prohibit pros from t-bagging in matches next? Occasionally adding meme items is probably fine, but why would Valve push this kind of update when the community is pissed at them? I don't think that these kind of childish cosmetics are going to be a one time or infrequent thing. To me it's indicative of a general desire to market CS to younger audiences, which isn't inherently a bad thing, but the way they're going about it is pretty bad.

And what's the point of CS catering to a younger audience with charms anyway when so many other games already do? Overwatch for instance has charms. I don't want the game to be extremely gloomy or edgy, but I don't want these insanely cartoonish things in the game either. I think it's fair to draw a line at these kinds of designs, because if CS loses its identity as a game then there will be no alternative. I'm not saying that this is the apocalypse and that CS is going to become Fortnite in a year. But I'm not happy with the fact that the devs seem to be moving the game along in this kind of direction. And just to be clear: I'm not against change in general in CS. I'm just against change that compromises the identity of it. I love new maps, meta changes, and seeing the game spiced up in new ways that are fun. But I don't want to see CS implement the same thing that every other game has– battle passes, charms, and the rest. If I want those then I'll play Overwatch or Valorant. I just want CS to stay unique.

25 Comments

  1. CeilingBreaker

    I mean the same could be said about skins and cosmetics in general. I dont really get why people care either way, whether theres any cosmetics in the game doesnt change the gameplay outside of agent skins, which are overall a bad thing as you want consistency in player models even if they dont affect hitboxes.

  2. SweetTeaRex92

    500+ word essay on why op is against charms.

    Classic gamer move.

  3. CheeseWineBread

    I already hear that. In 2013 when they introduce Arms Deal.

  4. thesereneknight

    They belong. It doesn’t make game cartoonish. It just gives people some choice. CS isn’t going to lose its identity by having some cartoonish blobs on guns. Skins & stickers are already doing that. They are less (actually not at all) problematic than agent skins. CS might lose its identity when core gameplay starts having cartoonish elements.

  5. Substantial-Stick-44

    Good times when everyone was upset about Agents.
    Now they sound good

  6. tan_phan_vt

    I think they do belong in CS, partly because the CS community got many younger people playing now. Many of them came from valorant too.

    Just remember you have a choice to use it or to not use it. I don’t use it doesn’t mean others who love cute stuffs must not use it, its nonsense.

    Remember its the avatar you create and control, its meant to represent YOU in the game. So of course, you can decide to be the classic hardcore CS veteran or a cutesy teenager in the game. I don’t really mind.

  7. SJIS0122

    I feel like they should’ve introduced more ‘realistic’ charms first before they introduced the silly ones, like why not give the option to display your ten year medal coin or office coin on your favorite skin?

  8. Pokefreaker-san

    the fk you mean CS is not catering to younger audiences when you have someone like Donk who’s just a fking kid and many others like him paving the future of CS. what’s next you’re going to tell me that CS is just not catering to female gamers is the reason why we dont have many female cs players?

  9. Valarante child game…. look to cartoon grapfix to make kid player happy like children show.. valarante cartoon world with rainbow unlike counter strike with dark corridorr and raelistic gun.. valarante like playhouse. valarant playor run from csgo fear of dark world and realism so need child game to relax

  10. I just need a joint charm to go with my drug war veteran crafts, that’s all. They can delete the rest I’m not interested.

  11. kontbijtkoekje

    The game has been a cartoonish caricature of its former self since those clown masked, scuba geared and purple haired full cringe monologue giving agents were added

  12. bugghost

    skins nerds are ruining everything. why did valve add truck nuts before adding cobble

  13. LapinTade

    > I can think of that caters to adults.

    Adults loves customisation, collecting and showing off.

  14. futurehousehusband69

    Counter-Strike is not ‘a game targeted at adults’ are you crazy 😭😭

  15. feltusen

    I cant understand grown ups caring about skins at all. Its just weird

  16. GAdorablesubject

    IMO the casual bigotry for teenage edgy humor in voice is childish, cartoon skins are just a artistic choice. So arguably CS is more “childish” than Valorant, even tho CS is a way better game.

    If you really is afraid of doing something “childish”, you shouldn’t btw, the amount of hours you spend on a game is way more relevant than the art style of said game. But if you enjoy your hobby you shouldn’t really care if people perceive it as “adult” enough.

    The complaint would make sense if you were focusing simply on how you don’t enjoy the look of it and don’t think it mixes well with the CS aesthetic. Instead of going on circles talking about “childish cartoon”.

    What’s even the logic of the tea bag worry? Do you think South Park wouldn’t allow a tea bagging scene just because it’s a cartoon?

  17. I used to think this way aswell but then I remembered that this game is just a mod at the end of the day and CS is not only about competitive 5v5. We have zombie escape, surf mode, kz and other silly gamemodes created by the community that are childish af. What difference does a charm make?

  18. Zammyjesus

    Well, same as skins, agent models, stickers, MVP music, gloves etc…

    You dont need to write essay about this , its already done, also who even gives a shit, not like some charm is gonna distract anyone

  19. Turkey_The_One

    I also didnt really like their addition but it doesnt seem that intrusive on weapons, and i just wont put them on any of my guns so it doesnt really affect me.

  20. Curse3242

    I agree. I hate charms. I know most people hate them

    This in CS is outrageous

    Now I think it’s just laziness they didn’t add all the Valorant vfx anime ghosts after kills & CGI guns.

  21. BobertRosserton

    I know this is just a rant opinion post but the fact that you hold this opinion means you’re not the audience they’re catering to. This will make lots of money and counter strike boomers complaining ain’t changing that, stickers and graffiti are probably the biggest direct money makers in the game.

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