The loot box system, characterized by randomized cosmetic rewards, has faced persistent scrutiny and controversy for years.
Counter-Strike 2 enthusiasts recently observed a peculiar shift following a game update: certain rare weapon cases appear to have been removed from the active drop pool.
This discovery has fueled speculation that Valve may be planning to phase out traditional cases entirely in the near future. However, well-known dataminer Thour has offered some clarification, noting that existing inventories will likely remain unaffected:
“When I speak about the ‘removal of cases,’ I mean that Valve will transition away from adding new ones, opting for terminals instead. Legacy cases currently in circulation will remain in the game.”
Previously, Counter-Strike 2 introduced “Armory Terminals,” which drop like traditional cases but serve as a direct interface with a “virtual merchant.” The merchant offers a specific randomized skin, and the user must then decide whether to finalize the purchase or attempt to refresh the offer—a feature that is limited to a set number of uses.
This move is widely interpreted as Valve’s strategy to navigate increasingly strict anti-gambling laws targeting loot boxes. By using these terminals, Valve provides transparency, as players are shown exactly what they are purchasing before any transaction occurs.
Source: iXBT.games