Counter-Strike pros write open letter to Valve asking for default female skins, histrionic reaction shows why that's probably a good idea

The Astralis Counter-Strike womens' team has released an open letter to developer Valve, asking for the game to include female skins as a default option in future. The letter was posted by team rifler Josefine Jensen, signed and shared by the other members of the roster (Aurora Lyngdal, Marie Toft, Anja Soelberg and Isabella Ferslev), and reads in part:

«We share the passion for Counter-Strike with millions of gamers world-wide and we love being a part of a truly global community. Unfortunately, we currently feel we are only guests at the party.

»Using a female agent skin costs extra, while default skins are all male. We don't know why it is so, but we know that it strikes us as being both unfair and a bit unwelcoming. It certainly feels that way and in some way it supports the sexism that we unfortunately still encounter."

As the letter mentions CS2 does include female agent skins, but they're all part of previous CS:GO operations and had to be either earned in-game at the time or bought. Female agents available in the game include Lieutenant Farlow, Getaway Sally, Cmdr. Mae Jamison, Special Agent Ava, Chef d'Escadron Rouchard, and Vypa, with some of those having additional variant skins.

However: as is the nature of the CS:GO / CS2 economy, these agents now change hands for money. A quick glance at the community market shows the cheapest female agent would be Mae Jamison (around £7.50/$9) while the undeniably cool Getaway Sally would set you back (£40 / $51). «I do think they are pretty cool,» says Jensen. «but if there were to be added default women agents I would like them to be more casual, like the default male agents.»

So the argument being made by the Astralis players here seems fairly straightforward: the game already has women in it, they're just all paywalled, and it seems unfair there's no default female agent players can choose to use. The letter says «we don't know why it is so» but the reason is surely just an historical hangover: Counter-Strike's