Ever since Counter-Strike became a free-to-play game, Prime status has become a key aspect to consider. In CS2, Prime status is an optional purchase for players who are serious about the game and also try their luck at getting free drops.

In this guide, we will tell you all about Prime status in CS2, how to get Prime status in CS2, the benefits of Prime status in CS2, and matchmaking with Prime status in CS2.

But first, what is Prime status in CS2?

What is Prime status in CS2?

Counter-Strike 2, thanks to the changes made to Global Offensive in 2018, has become a free-to-play game. While this is good if you want your friends to try the game, it also has a downside.

Because free-to-play games have no barrier to entry, anyone can play the game, and not only that, they can also do so on multiple accounts. This means that it is easy to find lobbies where players are not trying, do not care about the game, and are just trolling.

This is where Prime status in CS2 comes into play.

One of the main benefits of Prime status in CS2 is the cleansing of the player base. Prime players can only play against other Prime-enabled players in CS2, and these players are more likely to provide a better gaming experience. However, Prime players can still queue with non-Prime players, although they will be matched with other non-Prime players on Steam. The quality of the match will be lower, although you can introduce your friends to the game this way.

In CS2, Prime status also allows you to queue for ranked matches, which is one of the main joys of playing Counter-Strike. Accounts with Prime access in CS2 also receive free benefits, which in CS2 are weekly Prime drops. While these are usually low-value items, some players have reported receiving valuable items from their weekly Prime drops in CS2.

How to Get Prime in CS2

Getting Prime in CS2 is easy, although it will cost money. Prime in CS2 is permanent, but you will have to shell out $14.99 to get it. While it may seem expensive at first, it is important to remember that you will enjoy CS2 much more if you decide to spend the money.

To purchase and activate Prime in CS2, open the game and follow the options to purchase it through Steam.

And if you are wondering, “is Prime in CS2 permanent?” You also only pay the fee once, and then you can enjoy it for as long as you want.

Can you get Prime in CS2 for free?

Unfortunately, you can no longer get Prime for free in CS2. When Prime was introduced, it was initially granted to all players who already owned the game, although new players could earn Prime by reaching level 21 in the game.

Since this feature was removed in 2021, it is no longer possible to earn Prime in CS2. Therefore, the only way to get Prime status in CS2 is to buy it.

Or is it?

Buying Counter-Strike 2 Prime accounts

There is another way to get Prime status in CS2 – buying a Counter-Strike 2 Prime account. While this is an option, we would advise against it for a number of reasons.

Firstly, buying and selling Steam accounts violates Valve’s terms of service. So while you can buy and own an account, there is no guarantee that you will have that account forever, as you can get banned for buying it. Secondly, given that Prime status in CS2 costs $14.99, you will likely have to pay the same to buy an account with Prime, so it is better to just buy it yourself.

Prime Matchmaking in CS2

The biggest benefit of Prime status in CS2 is Prime matchmaking in CS2. The reasons for this are as follows:

Less chances of encountering cheaters: Although cheaters are inevitable in all PC games, with Prime status enabled in CS2, you will encounter them much less often. This is because cheaters are less likely to get banned when they have invested money into it.

Access to ranked matches: Ranked matches are the backbone of Counter-Strike, and there is nothing more satisfying than reaching Global Elite for the first time. Without access, are you really playing Counter-Strike?

Better quality of games: Unless you are playing FACEIT, the best quality games can be found with Prime status. Without it, trolls are everywhere.

Conclusion: Is Prime Status in CS2 worth it?

Now that we have explained to you what Prime Status in CS2 is, you may be wondering if it is worth it. While we can’t make that decision for you, we’d say yes to that question.

Prime status has no strings attached in CS2 and is permanent after a one-time purchase of $14.99. For a small fee, you get access to all of the Prime matchmaking features in CS2, free drops, and an overall better gaming experience. Why not?