Futuristic Skins That Fit the Cyberpunk-Themed CSGO Vertigo

Become a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)’s player from the distant future with the upcoming cyberpunk-themed CSGO Vertigo map with available weapon skins

Unfazed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has seen a record-breaking number of players logging onto the game this year to pit against each other in a match between Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. While we are facing a tumultuous period this year, most of us remained hopeful and looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel. At SkinCashier, we are also hoping to play our part by pointing out some of the newest additions in the game to make full use of your experience in the game with flair and delight. Fortunately, the Counter-Strike community has contributed tremendously alongside the Valve team to come up with new and exciting updates for the pure enjoyment of fellow players.

Recently, we have come across a particular fan-modded map in the Steam workshop, which is worth a second look due to its awesomely designed elements. For those who have been kept abreast of the gaming scene, you should be aware of the highly anticipated cyberpunk game genre – Cyberpunk 2077 coming up later this year. With this game title, it has revived an outpouring demand for cyberpunk-themed games this year, with many popular game series such as Valorant, League of Legends and Call of Duty releasing related updates to fulfill their players’ desire immersing themselves in a dystopian future online. Counter-Strike is no exception to such updates as well. It is widely known that the game has one of the largest, and most active communities around who have contributed tons of modded updates thanks to Valve’s Steam Workshop initiative. According to a recent update, a user by the online moniker – “Blade x64” will be releasing a cyberpunk-inspired Vertigo CSGO map this year. Before we delve deeper into the anticipated map, let us take a look at another earlier modded map which have drawn similar inspirations to the cyberpunk settings.

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The Dystopian Dust 2 Future

In August 2018, Dust 2, one of the most iconic maps ever made, saw a fan-based remake as one Aussie mapper known as “lmtlss” decided to give the classic a bit of a cyberpunk touch, called Dust 2 Future. This modded map, created by the same mapper that added weather effects to classic maps, has the mapper spent close to three weeks to come up with a Dust 2 with a cyberpunk touch. In an interview hosted by Kotaku Australia that year, lmtlss told the press that “I have always loved the cyberpunk genre. The idea came about while watching Blade Runner 2049 – that movie is gorgeous.” The new CS GO update of Dust 2 has proved to be popular amongst the CSGO workshop community, and is among one of the highest rated modded maps in the workshop.

Another cyberpunk take, now with CS GO Vertigo map

Four years later, another mapper known as “Swain” has received the community’s attention with his concept screenshots of a cyberpunk reskin of Vertigo on social media. The brilliantly modded map instantly caught on with fans shortly after, who expressed their support to the creation of another cyberpunk-themed map.

Similar to lmtlss’s Dust 2 Future, the intricate design of the dystopian version of Vertigo is inspired from popular media in the cyberpunk genre, according to Swain. The most obvious parallels are with classic anime film Akira, which takes place in a dark version of Tokyo contrasted by bright neons. Other fans have mentioned noir thriller Blade Runner as a point of comparison. This style lends itself well to various popular weapon skins, with the most obvious examples being the Neo-Noir, Neon Rider, and Neon Revolution skins.

Although the soon-to-be-released Vertigo map is poised to be well-received by the community, Swain may have to work out on the design challenge posed by the night skyline. Ensuring that visibility is clean without compromising the new cyberpunk aesthetic is a tough hurdle to clear for any designer, especially when there are now numerous agent skins that need to be considered, any of which might blend into these darker background colors, which could result in an unfair advantage for those who put on these agent skins to the better in this modded map.

Nonetheless, this cyberpunk-inspired Vertigo is expected to give the community a good time while reliving their cyberpunk fantasy in their favorite first person shooter game. If you are interested to track the progress and release date of this Vertigo version, do follow Swain’s account in the Steam Workshop.

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Futuristic CS:GO skins to channel your inner cyberpunk

As more first-person shooter games hop onto the “cyberpunk-themed” bandwagon as a result of the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077, it is little wonder that some of us in CS:GO would love to see some futuristic factors implemented into our favorite shooter competitive game as well. After all, it may be long due for Valve to devise an upcoming update (awaiting for those CS:GO patch notes with a cyberpunk update) to introduce more futuristic elements to satisfy our craving for cyberpunk-ish type of virtual environment while grabbing our AWP Dragon Lore or some futuristic weapons to eliminate our opponents. Meanwhile, thanks to the community mappers in Steam Workshop, we could experience a futuristic take in CS:GO with these community maps like Vertigo. Also, do consider shopping for some matching CS:GO skin outfits that suit the cyberpunk themed maps, since there are actually quite a number of skins available on Steam Market and third-party marketplaces that are futuristically designed.

Below is a list of futuristic CS:GO skins that you may look into at getting before the eventual release of Swain’s Vertigo later this year.

StatTrak USP-S | Cyrex (Factory new)

Description: It has been given discreet red highlights to give off a futuristic feel.

Flavor Text: Imogen was the past Felix, I’m the future – Huxley, The Competition

Added: 28 November 2016

Grade: Restricted

Starting Price: $13.40

Cases: The Glove Collection

Stealing the gorgeous design of the M4A1-S Cyrex is its twin the USP-S Cyrex, which allows your CT in CS:GO to be fully outfitted in red, white, and black. In Factory New this skin looks so good, and is one of the best USP-S skins you can get for those looking to spend under 10 dollars.

AWP | Asiimov (Battle-Scarred)

Description: It has been custom painted with a sci-fi design.

Flavor Text: Anyone can predict the future… a visionary shapes it

Added: 20 February 2014

Grade: Covert

Starting Price: $47.50

Cases: The Phoenix Collection

Made legendary by the flicks and tricks from Kenny “KennyS” Schrub’s “Magic Stick” early on in the Frenchman’s career, the Asiimov is perhaps the first skin that has shown how big of an impact esports have on a skin’s price and popularity. At the height of its powers, the Asiimov was regarded as highly as the Dragon Lore, and while it may not be as popular as it was back then, it has now become one of the best bang for your buck skins in CSGO.

It’s a bit pricier than most of these at $50 for a good-lookin’ Well-Worn version, but given its reputation and popularity, as well as its clean sci-fi theme and fit into white loadouts, it’s definitely worth the price. Skins that go great with this are: the AK-47 and M4A4 | Asiimov, M4A1-S Mecha Industries, the USP-S | Road Rash, and the Glock-18 | Grinder.

StatTrak USP-S | Neo-Noir (Battle-Scarred)

Description: It has been custom painted with a stylized blue-magenta woman over a grayscale background.

Flavor Text: “Drenched in a neon glow, she lies at the foot of an oppressive skyscraper”

Added: 16 March 2017

Grade: Covert

Starting Price: $43.50

Cases: The Spectrum Collection

The Neo-Noir series of finishes is an absolute beauty. Inspired by the aesthetics of film noir, these black, purple and white skins. Somewhere between art-deco and cyberpunk. Given its play of beautiful artwork, it’s a wonder that this skin for the starter pistol isn’t more expensive than around $20 for its Field-Tested variant. This skin is perfect for a loadout featuring the AWP & M4A4 | Neo-Noir or the M4A1-S | Decimator, Glock-18 | Moonlight and the AK-47 | Neon Rider.

StatTrak AK-47 | Redline (Field-Tested)

Description: It has been painted using a carbon fiber hydrographic and a dry-transfer decal of a red pinstripe.

Flavor Text: Never be afraid to push it to the limit

Added: 20 February 2014

Grade: Classified

Starting Price: $41.75

Cases: The Phoenix Collection

Speaking of diminishing results, the difference between the Field-Tested and Minimal Wear versions of the skins isn’t worth the $30 extra you’d pay for him. Getting a low float Field-Tested is absolute bang-for-buck, giving you one of the cleanest redskins on the market for a relatively low fifteen bucks. This skin works well in a loadout with M4A1-S & USP | Cyrex, M4A4 | Bullet Rain, Glock-18 | Candy Apple, and of course, the AWP | Redline from the same series.

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Invest in these futuristic CSGO skins on SkinCashier

Predicting good investments is a little bit harder right now than it would usually be. Any of the above CSGO skins could one day fetch a higher price due to stories that we have yet to uncover. At the meantime, with stable prices for the best CGSO skins each weapon has to offer and the fact that the current situation in the world has caused the Rio Major to be postponed, leaving us without the classic “wait for the last day of the Major and invest in stickers’ ‘ routine we’d usually suggest.

Right now, your best bet are skins which were in high supply during Operation Shattered Web and might be in high demand in the future, this includes the AK-47 | Baroque Purple, Glock-18 | Synth Leaf. That’s usually a good way to invest your money on CSGO skins, and once you’re done with doing so, you can sell CSGO skins on SkinCashier for real money and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.