Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Arms Deal update allows for decorated weapons trade

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been updated to allow players to trade special decorated weapons.

As detailed on the Counter-strike blog, players will acquire decorated weapons from weapon cases, which can be found in timed drops or opened with purchased keys. Decorated weapons are purely cosmetic and convey no in-game advantage, and can be used in all game modes.

Both weapons and keys can be traded with other players, or purchased on the Steam Marketplace. One way to pick up keys is to purchase the newly-introduced eSports Weapon Case. Some of the proceeds from these packs will go towards funding prizes at competitive events.

Valve hopes to open a Workshop for decorated weapons in the future, allowing the community to craft unique items for inclusion in-game.

The developer noted in an FAQ that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is not going free-to-play, even if this latest update has a bit of a Team Fortress 2 feel to it.

"The Arms Deal Update is aimed at rewarding the wide spectrum of players who have already purchased CS:GO - from players looking for new ways to express themselves in-game, to CS:GO’s competitive community getting well-deserved visibility and bigger rewards for their high level of skill," the developer wrote.

The update also adds two new stock weapons, the M4A1-S and USP-S.

Thanks, Polygon.