What Prime status means in CS:GO: Basically, CS:GO is Free2Play, but there are restrictions that were introduced with an update in June. Those who want to use the ranked mode must have Prime status for it, which costs the equivalent of 13 euros one time. However, not only ranked matches are included in the Prime status, but also other advantages:

• Skill group ranks
• Profile experience points
• Prime souvenir items
• Weekly weapons and graffiti artists
• Item drops

Valve gave players time: In advance, Valve’s developers announced a transition period. Those who played enough until June 17 automatically received Prime status. Those who did not make it to the deadline lost all their experience points and skill group rank. Excluded from this were all those who had already earned Prime status in advance. (via Steam Support)

Paywall is to be understood as a protective measure according to Valve

Since December 2018, CS:GO has been free-to-play for everyone. Access to all of the game’s content was available to everyone, with Prime players receiving separate matchmaking and rewards. However, Prime status could also be earned for free by completing missions and earning experience points. The community often saw this as a reason why there were still cheaters in the game.

With the introduction of the Prime status paywall, the problem should be curbed. Players without Prime status will still be able to use any game mode, but will not receive any experience points, ranks or drops for it and will also be excluded from skill groups. According to the Counter-Strike.net blog post, this should have a positive effect for veterans and newcomers.

New game mode “Unranked” introduced: The new game mode has been unlocked for all players. In Unranked, skill-based matchmaking is used, but the results do not affect the skill group of Prime players.

Is the paywall a reason for falling player numbers? As of June 17, Prime status is no longer available on free-to-play. According to Steamcharts, CS:GO player numbers fell by 110,541 players in June 2021 – the highest since the switch to the Free2Play model in 2018.

CS:GO has lost over 100,000 players in June. One reason could be the new paywall.

An obvious conclusion is that many players turned their backs on CS:GO after the introduction of the paywall for ranked matches. In addition, many players turned their backs on Counter-Strike after the release of Valorant. Petra also feels that Valorant is now the better Counter-Strike. She gives the reasons for this in her column: