X-Ray Scanner Changes in CS2

For the last few weeks, the Counter-Strike community has been saying the same thing: 'Valve is removing cases.'

And as terrible as it sounds (and not entirely wrong), it's not fully right either.

As of March 16, 2026, German players can no longer open cases the traditional way. Instead, they now have an X-Ray Scanner tab in their inventory, and all containers must be opened through it.

But this isn't new for Europe. France went through the same thing back in 2019, and Germany is actually the fourth EU country to have case restrictions imposed, following France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, which have had cases outright banned since around 2018.

What is the X-Ray Scanner?

In simple terms, it is a mechanic that allows players to see what item is inside the container before buying a key to open it.

This is quite a big change, as the traditional case-openings system in CS2 has always been built around mystery, risk, and chance.

Now, by adding the X-Ray feature, the thrill of unboxing is gone. However, there is a small catch: once the case is scanned, the player must claim the revealed item before scanning the next container. 

How to Use the X-Ray Scanner in CS2?

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to use the X-Ray Scanner for German players:

1. When you open your CS2 Inventory, you will notice a new tab named X-Ray Scanner.
2. Before you can scan any cases, you must purchase a one-time exclusive, non-tradable Genuine P250 | X-Ray skin for $2.50.
3. Once you own it, you can use it to scan any case, container, capsule, or package to reveal the item inside.
4. To claim the revealed item, you must purchase a key at $2.49 (if it's a weapon case). You cannot scan a different case until the current one is claimed.

Valve has also clarified that once scanned, a container disappears from your inventory and that a scanned container can no longer be sold or traded, with the item inside becoming permanently fixed.

Why did Valve Decide to do that?

The traditional case-opening system is built on suspense. Users purchase the key, open the case, and hope that the roulette will land on something valuable. The X-Ray Scanner changes the emotional loop.

Instead of paying without knowing what you will get, you find out first and then decide whether to pay to claim the revealed item or not. This prevents players from endlessly checking cases for free, and makes the experience feel really different from the classic format. 

Valve has not publicly stated a detailed reason for bringing the X-Ray Scanner to Germany; the reason might be the regulatory compliance around the loot boxes. Germany’s USK age-rating system flags games with “in-game purchases & random objects”. The explanation of the flag says that loot boxes are purchases where players do not know the item before buying.

Thus, the X-Ray scanner makes the purchase more transparent while still preserving the Valve’s huge economy.