Riot is Running Out of Ideas to Cash in on Old Skins

Valorant’s new Singularity 2.0 bundle is about to drop, and while it brings an upgrade to one of the game’s most beloved skin lines, it feels like Riot Games is falling into a familiar trap. Much like Fortnite’s repetitive skin re-releases, Riot’s habit of churning out 2.0 versions of older skins is starting to feel a bit samey.

Valorant is easily the biggest and most popular first-person shooter in the market right now. Players have already noted on multiple occasions that the skins in the game are on the more expensive side. So Riot going for even more cash grabs with 2.0 or 3.0 skinlines is a little annoying.

Should Riot Be More Creative With Valorant Skins?

The Singularity skin line, first introduced in 2020, has been a fan favorite for its sleek, futuristic design. The new 2.0 version will come out with Patch 9.06 on September 24. Riot has retained much of what made the original set popular, including its polygonal, crystal-accented aesthetic.

New Vandal. New Ghost. New Butterfly Knife + All new Variants. Singularity returns in Patch 9.06. pic.twitter.com/eTfiOezIoj

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) September 20, 2024

The Singularity 2.0 bundle will include new guns like the Vandal and a Ghost alongside a brand new butterfly knife. Unlike the first bundle though, the new one will include new color variants including a bright gold and blue version in a departure from the cracked mix color variants that the first one had.

This repetitive trend of updating and re-releasing old skins is not exclusive to Valorant. Fortnite players have also criticized Epic Games for doing the same. Many fans feel let down by the lack of creativity in Fortnite’s battle passes and skin updates.

But still, skins are an important part of live-service online games like these. Even more so in Valorant’s case when they have heavily impacted how players experience the game with and without a skin. Sometimes a skin will make you think you’re TenZ, other times it makes you question your purchase.

The 2.0 Skins Aren’t Bad, They Just Feel Unnecessary Sometimes

Many players see the frequent re-releases of these skinlines as a missed opportunity. Fans don’t just want more of the same. Recent additions like the Evori Dreamwings, Mystbloom, and the Xerofang skins were well received by players.

Possible Hot Take: I think 2.0 and 3.0 skinlines are great!
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The Singularity 2.0 bundle comes at a time when Riot can capitalize on recent success with new creations rather than a continuation of an old skinline. But there are still pros to this idea of 2.0 versions. Some players argue that giving older skins a second life allows them to complete their in-game collections.

For example, fans of the original Singularity skins now have a matching Vandal, which wasn’t included in the first release. But for many, these releases feel like a way to milk players’ wallets rather than delivering genuinely new content.

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The repetitive nature of these re-releases points to a larger issue within the gaming industry: a reliance on nostalgia and safe bets. Both Epic Games and Riot shouldn’t hesitate to take risks with their cosmetic designs as they’ve been successful before.

Outside of the skins, Riot has taken good care of Valorant over the years. The game has had its share of imbalance but the devs have been quick to implement changes. Vanguard anti-cheat also remains the best in the business.

What do you think of the 2.0 and 3.0 skins in Valorant? Let us know in the comments!