In the past, when discussing weapons in CS:GO (and previous versions like CS:S, CS 1.6, or CS 1.1), people often referred to iconic guns representing both sides: the M4 for CT (in CS:GO it’s the M4A4 and M4A1-S), the AWP, and of course, the legendary AK-47 with its ability to one-tap opponents at any range. Scoped weapons (aside from the AWP and SSG 08 – also known as the scout) were considered “the unwanted child,” “COD guns,” or even “gay guns” and were rarely used, especially in the international professional arena.
However, at the end of October 2018, Valve released a “revolutionary” update that reduced the price of the AUG and SG553 by $250, making their price competitive with familiar weapons and giving players an alternative if they didn’t want to buy an M4 or AK. Shortly after, these weapons flooded professional matches and at times even overshadowed the M4 and AK in popularity at LAN tournaments. The reason is quite simple: for just a little more money, you could own a very powerful weapon with a scope, giving you a significant advantage in skill duels against opponents, especially AWP-ers.
Since then, Valve has made several nerf updates to these two weapons by raising their price again, reducing accuracy when scoped, and decreasing fire rate. As a result, the AUG has almost disappeared from the professional scene (once again), but the SG553 has not been affected too much and remains a favorite among many pro players.
The price of 3,000 (just 300 more than the AK, equivalent to the cost of a nade or smoke) is still considered quite cheap, as the T-side can easily buy 1-2 SGs in the second round (if they plant the C4) and they completely outperform SMGs, Famas, or even the M4 on the CT side. These advantages are part of the reason why famous CT-sided maps like Nuke, Train, or Overpass have recently become more balanced as the T-side can engage in skill duels with CTs at long distances without a significant disadvantage.
NIKo, in an AMA on his Instagram, also shared his thoughts and evaluations about the power of this weapon.
Pimp, a former professional player and a familiar face on tournament analysis desks, has also “begged” Valve to nerf this weapon.
Nearly all professional gamers agree that this weapon needs a nerf; however, many believe it shouldn’t be nerfed as harshly as the AUG, but rather have its price increased or its fire rate decreased, or damage reduced to help balance it while still remaining a viable choice for players who prefer using this weapon. Hopefully, Valve will make reasonable adjustments to bring about balance while ensuring diversity in our favorite game.