The newest Valorant Skin, Black Market, seems to be a loving tribute to another FPS game. The resemblance is uncanny, and it cannot be denied. It seems that Riot Games is well aware of the upcoming release of Counter-Strike 2.
Whether it is a tribute or not, Counter-Strike fans are enraged by it. The skin line looks more like a copy rather than a loving tribute to the game. After all, it could be a response to the recent reveal of Counter Strike 2.
One of the unique features of this bundle is that the Defender and Attacker weapons have different designs. This means that the skins will have a different color and design depending on which side you are on.
It even has the same concept of different-looking weapons if you are on attack or defense. Its concept is a clear ode to Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists having access to different guns on Counter-Strike. For example, Terrorists have access to the AK47 while Counter-Terrorists can purchase the M4A4 or the M4A1-S.
Black Market Valorant Skin Bundle
The Black Market bundle includes skins for the Bulldog, Vandal, Marshal, Classic, and a Butterfly Knife Melee. Each gun on the bundle looks eerily similar to its FPS counterpart, CS: GO.
The Vandal on the attacker’s side looks like the AK-47 from CS: GO. The Bulldog skin is clearly a reference to Counter-Strike’s FAMAS gun. While the classic skin on the attacker’s side once again looks like Glock-18 from CS.
Whether this reference is intentional or not, Riot Games should have noted the fans’ reaction to this. CS: GO players especially are outraged by this calling the bundle “CS: GO on Valorant.”
Even Tarik, former CS: GO veteran turned Valorant content creator, refers to the bundle as a set of CS skins. Given his experience in CS: GO, his comments are valid and on-point. Even a not-too-avid player of CS: GO like me can see the uncanny resemblance of the bundle.
So is the Black Market skin a copy of CS: GO? From the looks of it, a resounding yes. However, a case can be made that it is just a loving tribute from CS: GO’s younger brother. Maybe this is just one of those valorant skins that pay tribute to another game.
If you are a former CS: GO player and you love the reference, then this is good news for you. The Valorant Skin, Black Market, is already available at the store for a limited time. Get your hands on it if you want to feel that CS: GO vibe on Valorant.
