Competitive FPS Valorant has largely been well-received following its PC launch. One area that’s drawn the ire of some gamers, however, is the pricey monetization. While cosmetic microtransactions in a free-to-play game are fine, many have been prompted to question: “Why are Valorant skins so expensive?” Stick around as we discuss the high cost of Valorant skins.
Valorant MTX Price | Why are Valorant skins so expensive?
Valorant developer Riot Games has set the pricing for cosmetic microtransactions high. Although the studio hasn’t given an official reason for the premium pricing, it’s probably looking to quickly recoup development costs. Valorant is a free game with AAA production values, meaning that it needs to bring in a lot of money to be sustainable in the long term.
While charging nearly $20 for a gun reskin is undoubtedly hard to swallow, these cosmetics are entirely optional. Though it’s unfortunate that some users will be priced out of the market, ultimately, everyone still shares the same gameplay experience. This rationale possibly lies behind the expensive pricing model, which doesn’t look set to change judging by the new dragon skins.
Purchasing all four Ultra Edition (UE) skins that comprise the new Elderflame set costs 9,900 Valorant Points (2475 x 4 VP). That essentially translates to a massive $100, since the closest VP bundle is 11,000 Valorant Points for $99.99. While the Elderflame skins definitely look cool and even feature bespoke animations, the cost is proving to be controversial.
Pricing lower and making more sales could potentially have been just as lucrative for Riot, though some might argue it’d also take the sheen off these supposedly “Ultra” skins. While more players fall into the former camp judging by Reddit, Valorant cosmetics are selling regardless. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be prevalent in-game and Riot would most likely have pivoted to more affordable pricing.
Whether or not you agree with it, Valorant skins are so expensive because people buy them regardless and the developer earns more money this way. At least everybody can enjoy the game free of charge without the haves and have nots economy impacting core gameplay.
