Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has one of the largest and most passionate communities in the world of gaming, and a big part of that is the skins and sticker created for weapons in the game. These items, mostly designed by the community, add a new level of customization and personalization to the game.

However, there have been instances where Valve, the developer of CS:GO, has stepped in to modify these skins for various reasons. In this Steam Guide, we take a closer look at every community-created skin and sticker that have been altered by Valve. We'll highlight the modifications made to each skin. Whether you're a seasoned CS:GO player or just getting into the game, this guide is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of CS:GO!

We hope you enjoy the read and be sure to favorite to stay updated on any future skins/stickers added to the list.

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Valve has modified the M4A1-S Chantico's Fire due to its use of images sourced from the Internet. Valve's guidelines state that skin creators should utilize their own artwork. The specific part of the skin taken from the Internet is the red background colour/shape texture, which is illustrated in the images provided below.

Added: 28 April 2016
Reason: DMCA


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The Darkwing is another CS:GO community skin that was modified by Valve, but the exact reason behind the change remains unclear. However, based on our analysis, one possible reason for Valve's modification could be that the original version of the skin was deemed too vibrant for its assigned Restricted rarity.

Added: 31 March 2020
Possible reason: Too vibrant for Restricted
P.S.: Thanks Debski for the input! <3


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Valve has modified the M4A1-S Decimator, much like they did with Darkwing, but this time it was a deliberate move. The official CS:GO Workshop Guide by Valve includes a statement that reads, "The original finish for the Decimator had to be desaturated - we felt it looked unnatural in game.", which sheds light on the reason for the modification. The rationale behind the change has been made public, and it's evident that Valve made a conscious decision to adjust the skin's colour vibrance.

Interestingly, the Tec-9 Decimator didn't undergo any changes, despite being essentially the same skin as the M4A1-S Decimator. The difference in treatment between the two skins is noteworthy, as it demonstrates that Valve assesses each skin individually and makes decisions based on what they believe works best for each weapon.

Added: 16 March 2017
Reason: Too vibrant


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The Five-SeveN Fowl Play is another community CS:GO skin that has undergone modification by Valve. While the exact reasoning for the change remains unknown, one possible explanation could be that the bright orange colour of the skin may not have been deemed appropriate for use on a Counter-Terrorist weapon.

Added: 1 July 2014
Possible reason: Orange is not suitable for a Counter-Terrorists gun


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Valve has also modified Frontside Misty, but this time the modification was not due to a direct copy of someone else's work. The skin's original creator was the same workshop artist that made the previously mentioned M4A1-S Chantico's Fire, which was found to have been made using images sourced from the Internet. As a result of this discovery, Valve took a proactive step and modified the Frontside Misty to avoid any potential infringement issues.

Added: 17 September 2015
Reason: DMCA


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The M4A4 Griffin is one of the most well-known community skins that has undergone modification by Valve. At the time of its release, there was a lot of speculation regarding whether or not the skin would become a Contraband item, similar to the M4A4 Howl skin, which was removed from the game due to copyright infringement.

As it turns out, the artwork from the Griffin was taken from Dmitry Burmak. It was initially made in 2011 for Paizo Publishing's book "Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Mythical Monsters Revisited". The artist responsible for the theft was later identified, and Valve took immediate action to modify the skin to remove the copyrighted elements.

More about the artwork: https://imgur.com/HsDJlXi

Added: 11 November 2014
Reason: DMCA


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The infamous Howl and Howling Dawn sticker.

The M4A4 Howl and Howling Dawn sticker were created by Steam Workshop contributors named "sic” and “auzzii”. They were added to the game in 2014 as part of the Huntsman Case. However, it turned out that the artwork used on the skin and sticker were actually stolen from a DeviantArt user known as "CanisAlbus".

After the DMCA issues were discovered, Valve removed them from the game. As a result, both of these items received Contraband rarity and became unobtainable from the Huntsman Case. Moreover, Valve took down all items and Steam Workshop submissions made by "sic" and "auzzii".

Added: 1 May 2014
Reason: DMCA



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Valve has a history of occasionally modifying skins due to their color scheme and original looks. One such example is Mainframe 001, which was changed from its original design. The original design was deemed too vibrant for Mil-Spec, leading to speculation that this was the reason for the change. This follows a trend of Valve making small changes to skins, as we've previously seen with Darkwing and Decimator.

Added: 7 August 2020
Possible reason: Too vibrant for Mil-Spec
P.S.: Thanks Debski for the input! <3


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Once again, here is another example for small modification change by Valve. This is the P2000 Urban Hazard, which has undergone a slight change. Upon closer inspection of the before-and-after pictures, it's clear that the modification made to the skin is quite subtle, but still noticeable. The possible reason behind this change is that the original version was deemed to be too vibrant for its Mil-Spec rarity.

Added: 16 February 2018
Possible reason: Too vibrant for Mil-Spec
P.S.: Thanks moonfighter for the input! <3


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Valve has made a recent modification to an item in the new Revolution case. The UMP Wild Child, one of the latest additions to the game CS:GO, has undergone a bit different changes. This skin became brighter, unlike other skins which became dimmer and were previously featured in this guide. It's also funny to see that the artist behind this Steam Workshop submission left a description which says "Not all items needs to be new and bright )", but it seems that Valve devs disagree.

Added: 10 February 2023
Possible reason: Too dim for Classified
P.S.: Thanks Gabe Follower for the input! <3


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It may come as a surprise to some, but skins are not the only thing in CS:GO that have been modified by Valve due to DMCA issues. In fact, two stickers had to undergo some modifications in order to remain in the game. One of these stickers is Death Comes.

Additional information is available to further highlight the issue of DMCA infringement surrounding the Death Comes sticker. You can view relevant details and evidence here: https://imgur.com/WC4zNN0.

Added: 11 June 2014
Reason: DMCA

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As previously discussed, Valve has had to make modifications to various skins and stickers in response to DMCA infringement. One such sticker is Just Trolling, which was found to have been stolen from the DeviantArt user "cronobreaker".

The original artwork from which the sticker was taken is a piece entitled "Zombie Burger". It can be viewed here: https://deviantart.com/cronobreaker/art/Zombie-Burger-361465139

Added: 12 February 2015
Reason: DMCA


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We hope you found this guide informative and intriguing. CS:GO is full of secrets and these modified items are certainly a fascinating aspect of the game. Please feel free to share it with anyone you believe would find it both useful and engaging, including family members, friends, CS:GO teammates, and others.

Kindly consider leaving a like or a comment, adding this guide to your favorites for easy access in the future, or granting it a Steam Award to increase its visibility so the guide can be easier to find!
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