
On this page
It is a generally accepted statement that the best of players should receive the best rewards, no matter what game they are playing and CS2 is no exception. However, it is no secret that the Counter-Strike community has long struggled with cheaters, smurfs and players who try to ruin the gaming experience for others in various ways. This is not the kind of thing that regular members of the community should be faced with, especially the upper echelon of players, and Prime status is one feature that is effectively trying to improve the experience of such players, so let’s take a closer look at it and all the advantages and disadvantages that it provides. Also, if you want to trade CS2 skins, check out the rest of our website for the best deals possible!
What is CS2 Prime Status?
CS2 Prime is a feature in the popular shooter game that was specifically designed to make the competitive aspect of the game better. Players who purchase the Prime status (or who owned CS:GO before it went free-to-play) gain access to item drops and ranked modes such as Premier and Competitive, as well as Prime matchmaking, which means that you will always be matched with other players who have the Prime status. This was done as an attempt to prevent cheaters and smurf accounts from ruining the gameplay experience of other players.

While many members of the Counter-Strike community claim that this paywall is what diminishes the number of cheaters and smurf accounts in the game, others argue that a fully free-to-play model would be a lot more beneficial to everyone within the community.
How To Get CS2 Prime Status?
All players who had purchased CS:GO before it went free-to-play on December 6, 2018, were automatically upgraded to Prime status, which carried over to CS2. Players who already owned the game would already have their phone numbers linked to their accounts. If the number was removed from an account for any reason, players would have the option to relink the old number to the account should they desire to do so. Today though, players are no longer required to have a phone number linked to their account.

Players that currently don’t have access to CS2 Prime can simply purchase it on Steam’s Counter-Strike 2 store page for a one-time fee ($14.99 in the US at the time of writing; regional prices vary). To do this, simply open up the Steam Store and head to the Counter-Strike 2 store page. Scroll down and select the Prime Status Upgrade, and it will be applied to your account the next time you launch CS2.
If you need some extra money for CS2 Prime, check out our guide on how to sell CS2 skins for real money!
Can You Get CS2 Prime Status For Free?
When it comes to obtaining the Prime status, we already mentioned that there are a couple of ways that one could go about it. While players who wish to do so can simply choose to buy the Prime status for their account, others may not be comfortable with spending their hard-earned money on such a thing.
Unfortunately, this is no longer possible. Players used to receive Prime status for free once their account reached level 21, but Valve removed this option on June 3, 2021: since then, non-Prime accounts no longer earn XP, ranks, item drops or Prime status through play time. Today, the only way to get Prime on a new account is to buy the Prime Status Upgrade.
Is It Worth Getting CS2 Prime Status?
As we already mentioned on multiple occasions, Prime status was created in order to battle cheaters, smurfs, and other types of players who exhibit toxic and unfriendly behavior during regular matches. The main idea behind the Prime status was that the paywall it provides would diminish the number of those players who exhibit disruptive behavior. Once an account with Prime status is banned, it remains banned forever, so players who don’t abide by the rules will have to purchase entire new accounts and a new Prime status. In theory, all of this should result in teammates who are more communicative during matches, better players in general, and very few if any cheaters, smurfs, and other kinds of disruptive players.
“Prime status is for those who want a more serious style of gameplay, in conjunction with the competitive mode prime matchmaking can increase the abilities and learning of those who want to improve at Counter-Strike.”
Want some new skins for your favorite guns, but don’t have the funds? Check out the rest of our website, where you can regularly win free CS2 skins!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Prime status was designed to help mitigate the number of cheaters and smurf accounts within the Counter-Strike player base. This is why obtaining the Prime status on your account will result in a more enjoyable matchmaking experience as well as higher-quality CS2 matches.
Summary
In this article we will be focusing on providing detailed information about the CS2 Prime status. We will go over what CS2 Prime actually is and what kind of advantages it offers to players who have it. Additionally, we will also provide you with information on how to obtain the Prime status on your CS2 account, as well as discuss whether it is worth obtaining it.
Was this article helpful?One tap. It tells us what to update first.
Be the first to rate this article.
Thanks, noted. Alex reads these before every update.


