What is a CS2 Case Key and How Do I Get Them?

CS2 cases are virtual containers that players can acquire in the game. Each case contains a selection of items with varying levels of rarity. The items inside a case can range from common to extremely rare, with rarer items often being highly sought after by players for their aesthetic appeal or market value.

A CS2 Case Key is an item required to unlock a CS2 case. Each case requires a corresponding key to open it. For example, if you have a “Prisma Case,” you will need a “Prisma Case Key” to unlock it. Once a case is unlocked, the player receives a randomly selected item from the case’s pool of potential items.

In the past, case keys were originally able to be bought and traded publicly between players. Due to cases and reports of fraud and money laundering related to said items, new keys that are bought through the same starting in late 2019 were no longer able to be traded and can only be used by the player that bought all of them.

The Steam Community Market

This online marketplace, accessible through your Steam account, allows players to buy and sell CS2 items, including Case Keys. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, so keep an eye out for deals. These days, however, there is no reason to purchase keys on the Steam Community Market since their prices are pretty much the same as in-game prices.

Direct Purchase Through CS2

All Cases offer the option to purchase a corresponding key directly within the game itself. This is a convenient option, especially if you have a specific Case in mind. The prices for these are also fixed for practically every case, so owning a key is not subject to the value of the case itself and rather the fixed rate of the keys.

While some third-party retailers might offer CS2 Keys, exercise extreme caution. Always verify the seller’s reputation and ensure a secure payment method to avoid scams. Nowadays, new keys don’t really hold much value since they cannot be traded at all, but older keys that were made before the update that restricted trading are still sought after by some collectors.