While all the attention of the CS:GO community is focused on the possible launch of the Counter-Strike 2 beta in the coming weeks, this has caused different internal aspects of Valve’s shooter to start leaking.
A user on Twitter posted a sample of the CS:GO API, where you can see the money that the creators of Anubis and Tuscan would have paid. Of course, the community has always been concerned about how much money those skins creators can earn, but very few times have we put ourselves to think about what the creators of our beloved or hated maps could make.
Anubis & Tuscan
While we may think that the figures we will observe are a good salary or a reasonable remuneration, the simple fact of creating maps is not done overnight. Also, you must consider all the money the developers make from it.
First, remember that Anubis arrived in CS:GO’s Map Pool just a few months ago, replacing the iconic Dust 2, while Tuscan has been struggling to sneak into this select group of maps. For those who don’t relate to its name, Tuscan is one of the mythical maps of Counter-Strike 1.6, but it didn’t reach CS:GO until 2022.
The remastered map of this old 1.6 scenario was created by Brute and Catfood and made it to Valve’s Workshop as a final playability test. Weeks later, Tuscan was included in the game’s official matchmaking but has not yet been considered for the official Map Pool.
Tuscan seems to be the next map to join the rotation. However, for now, it has several features that need to be improved for it.
So, how much did the creators of Anubis and Tuscan charge?
Now, Twitter user Pavel Djundik has shared the CS:GO API, where he shows how the creators of these maps would have charged $150,000.
The CS:GO item schema API includes internal things for whatever reason, which includes such bangers like:
One-time Payment for Map 'de_anubis' (USD $150,000.00)
One-time Payment for Map 'de_tuscan' (USD $150,000.00) pic.twitter.com/FcEMChtcgg— Pavel Djundik (@thexpaw) March 8, 2023
As we see in the codes in the image, there is a line detailing:
- One-time Payment for Map ‘de_anubis’ (USD $150,000.00).
- – One-time Payment for Map ‘de_tuscan’ (USD $150,000.00)
This amount may seem enormous. However, getting a map accepted by Valve for the official MM is a highly complex task. Not to mention what it entails to enter the official competitive Map Pool as Anubis has done, as maps are scrutinized very closely, and every minute detail counts when making decisions.
On the other hand, Djundik replied to this same Tweet and said that he talked to some skins creators, who assured him that the payment is similar. So this means that the information may be accurate.
Talked to some map makers, Valve asks map makers to create a hidden skin so they can set up workshop revenue flow. Then Valve creates "payments" in the item schema, which ends up linked to said workshop item.
Basically a hack to pay mappers as if they submitted a skin.
— Pavel Djundik (@thexpaw) March 8, 2023
In short, Catfood & Brute (Tuscan) and Roald, jakuza & jd40 (Anubis) split those $150,000 that would have paid them to create these maps.
Header: Valve