Valve set to roll out CS2 X-Ray Scanner mechanic in Germany in response to new laws

On March 6th, Valve announced that the X-Ray case scanning system first introduced in France in 2019 is set to be imposed on German users starting on March 16th. Once the update goes live, German CS2 players will be required to purchase an X-ray Scanner and then use it to "scan" cases to see the item inside before purchasing said item. Much like in France, the change is being introduced to comply with laws governing gambling and games of chance, with courts determining that the "loot boxes" in Valve's games meet the criteria for regulation.

Germany will become the fourth country in the European Union to implement restrictions on cases in Counter-Strike, with the X-Ray Scanner being introduced in France in 2019 while opening cases has been banned in the Netherlands and Belgium since 2018.

Cases and skins have also become the source of controversy in the United States as New York AG recently sued Valve for promoting gambling with the items.

Read more about how the X-ray scanner works here.