The origins of virtual economies is by no means a new idea, and can be traced to the early MMORPGs such as EverQuest and Ultima Online from the late 1990s, when players started selling items for real money.
However, it was the launch of World of Warcraft in 2004 that gave the concept its most significant push, resulting in a thriving business for virtual goods and services, right before Valve introduced Team Fortress 2 in 2007, further revolutionizing the market with a unique trading system setting a precedent for future games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2.
This shift blended commerce and gaming and created a multi-billion dollar business in the process. So, let’s examine some of the most expensive game items.
1. Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
In CS2, the most expensive skins are usually the ones with unique patterns and low float values. The float value indicates the wear of a skin, and lower values equate to better condition and higher rarity.
For instance, a StatTrak AK-47 | Fire Serpent with a low float can reach prices of thousands of dollars on third-party markets, but a Blue Gem Karambit, for its pattern and drop rarity, goes for $150k. The aftermarket price is usually way higher than the Steam store price due to the demand as well as Steam’s price cap. Some of the rarest CS2 skins have even been priced at over $1 million as of 2025 outside of Steam.
The appealing aspect of these items is that they are not required to enjoy the game, allowing players to choose whether to invest their time or their money as well as the amount; they’re just bonus content. Much like the best sweepstakes casinos, which offer all kinds of promotions to new players and allow you to choose how much you want to invest in your entertainment.
2. Dota 2
Dota 2 is renowned for its extensive collection of cosmetic items, including couriers, sets, and effects. One such item is the Ethereal Flames Pink War Dog courier, which was once traded for $38,000.
Dota 2 items are valued according to their rarity, design, and popularity. While Steam’s marketplace allows trading, high-value trades occur mainly on third-party sites due to Steam’s transaction fees and restrictions.
3. Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2, as a pioneer, has a thriving market in hats and other cosmetic items. The value of the items is determined by their rarity, with unique edition hats being the most valuable.
For example, the Golden Wrench, which was a limited item given out as part of a promotional event, can be traded for an estimated $32k dollars on third-party sites. The Steam store does not typically have these high-priced items, so aftermarket sites are where most of these transactions occur.
4. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
The Olive Branch Pan skin in PUBG is one of the most expensive items in the Steam market, costing approximately $1800.
The skin’s rarity and difficulty in obtaining it make it expensive. In this case, the aftermarket does not significantly inflate the price since Steam’s marketplace is the hub for buying and selling PUBG skins.
5. Rust
Rust’s skin market is smaller than the other games but still active. Players exchange skins for items such as weapons and tools, and some rare skins sell for hundreds of dollars.
It varies based on the design and rarity of the skin, as with other games, but it’s much less centralized, however, and most trades occur outside of Steam. The prices tend to range from $50 to $500 for rare skins.
6. Apex Legends
For Apex, the cosmetic skins are incredibly well-liked by the community. Heirlooms and Mythic Skins are the rarest and most costly, as they run about $160 in the course of collection events or $500 through Apex Packs.
The Pathfinder Omega Point skin is particularly rare due to its low distribution and a bug that ultimately delisted it from the store. Rare skins go for more than $1,000 on third-party markets due to their exclusivity.
7. Warframe
Warframe’s item aftermarket isn’t as evident as some other games, with most trades being done within the game’s population, where the market is smaller but still very much active. The value of items depends on the availability, since some skins can no longer be required or are available only during certain events. Some rare frames and skins are selling for hundreds of dollars, but prices generally range from $20 to $200 for rare cosmetics.
Notable Examples
Beyond Steam, other games have seen significant sales:
EVE Online: Revenant Supercarrier was sold for $9,000, highlighting the complexity of the game’s economy and the demand for high-quality ships.
Entropia Universe: Properties like Crystal Palace Space Station ($330,000) and Club NEVERDIE ($635,000) demonstrate the potential for major investment in virtual worlds.
Roblox: Pieces like Midnight Blue Sparkle Time Fedora can fetch nearly $40,000 which is very impressive, considering the game is advertised and targeted towards children.
In short, the market for high-value in-game items is dynamic and active, driven by factors like condition, rarity, and demand, which makes it an interesting thing to invest in potentially, not much different than NFTs.
While there are official venues where exchanges can be made, high-value trades are usually conducted outside of them due to fees and restrictions, but also leave space for insecurity. With the gaming world set to continue evolving, it will be interesting to see how these virtual assets’ worth will change over time and how the players will take advantage of it.
