Can you gift skins in VALORANT?

In the gaming world, there's often a desire to gift something special to our gamer friends, and what could be more fitting than a good-looking skin in their favorite game? While titles like CS:GO and Dota 2 allow for skin trading and gifting, not all games offer such generosity. In this article, we delve into the current situation of the skin gifting and trading market in VALORANT, as well as provide some explanations and insights on the potential future changes of the existing limitations.

Current situation of skin gifting in VALORANT

As of 2023 Riot Games has not yet introduced the option to directly gift weapon skins in VALORANT. Despite announcing a possible release date of 2020 at Ask VALORANT #3, the feature remains unavailable. It appears that Riot's focus on implementing in-game changes and new skin bundles is the main cause for this delay.

Alternative ways to gift skins in VALORANT

Although VALORANT players have been hoping for the ability to gift weapon skins directly, Riot Games has come up with an alternative solution to allow friends to show their generosity.

Riot Games have introduced prepaid gift cards that serve as a way to share the excitement of skins without breaking any rules. These cards are available in amounts and can be redeemed for Valorant Points (VP) giving recipients the freedom to choose their favorite skin bundles and weapons. These cards can be purchased both physically as a voucher and online as a code. The code is activated in the game and the corresponding amount of VP is added to the player’s balance. There are 7 gift cards varying by price and number of VP:

• 475 VP (+0 bonus VP) for $4.99 or €5.00
• 950 VP (+50 bonus VP) for $9.99 or €10.00
• 1900 VP (+150 bonus VP) for $19.99 or €20.00
• 3325 VP (+325 bonus VP) for $34.99 or €35.00
• 4750 VP (+600 bonus VP) for $49.99 or €50.00
• 9500 VP (+1500 bonus VP) for $99.99 or €100.00

Will we ever be able to gift skins directly?

Interestingly Riot Games already has successful experience in implementing skin gifting and trading features to their games, such as League of Legends (LoL). In LoL players have the ability to gift skins, agents, and RP. However, VALORANT’s system functions differently, with its strict offers (you can buy only from the game for a specific price, which is not determined by the demand and supply), bundles, and Night Market that significantly limit purchasing options, thus not allowing the market economy.

This discrepancy in gifting mechanisms can pose challenges, opening up opportunities for illegal activity outside of the platform where players might sell their skins for real money outside of the game. A classic example of such a system can be found in FIFA, where players have been known to sell player cards at enormously inflated prices to launder coins for real currency.

On the other hand, if VALORANT were to adopt a market economy model, akin to what can be seen in games like Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, CS:GO, and other Steam titles, they would be unable to sell skin bundles at fixed prices. This approach could also lead to a significant loss in profits, as players would have the option to sell old items to purchase new ones, rather than continually investing in the latest offerings.

Altering the market model in VALORANT could have profound consequences for the game. First, allowing gifting would create a loophole enabling after-market speculation. To counteract this, Riot Games would need to introduce an open market where players could directly buy and trade skins, thereby establishing the demand and supply dynamics of an efficient market. Such a change would prevent VALORANT from selling skin bundles at fixed prices, necessitating a shift in its skin distribution model.

One alternative could be loot boxes, a method Riot Games has historically avoided, as it is strongly associated with gambling, which is prohibited in many countries, while also affecting the younger generations of players. Additionally, the company might face a substantial reduction in profits. With the ability to sell old skins to acquire new ones, rather than consistently purchasing the latest offerings, players would decrease the game's cash inflow, directly affecting the company’s revenue.

Conclusion: the skin gifting situation

Ultimately gifting skins in VALORANT is a complex matter that has not been implemented as of 2023. Riot Games has offered a solution by introducing prepaid gift cards, which allow players to share VP to purchase skin bundles. The decision to integrate a gifting feature poses multiple challenges associated with the revenue model and skin market system, which are usually established and unchanged from the very beginning of the game. As a result, Riot Games has opted for the gift card system as a compromise satisfying players' desires while still adhering to VALORANT's distinct economic structure.

If you're interested in VALORANT skins, explore our article on how to obtain numerous VALORANT skins for free.