In the past, when talking about weapons in CS:GO (and its predecessors like CS:S, CS 1.6, or CS 1.1), people often referred to the iconic guns representing both sides: the M4 of the CTs (which in CS:GO are the M4A4 and M4A1-S), the AWP, and of course, the legendary AK-47 with its ability to one-tap any opponent at any distance. Sniper rifles (except for the AWP and SSG 08 – also known as the scout) were considered the “ugly ducklings,” “COD guns,” or even “gay guns,” and were used by very few players, especially in the international professional arena.
However, at the end of October 2018, Valve introduced a “revolutionary” update reducing the price of the AUG and SG553 by $250, making their prices competitive with familiar guns and giving players an alternative if they didn’t want to purchase an M4 or AK. Not long after, these guns flooded professional matches and even at times overshadowed the M4 and AK in popularity during LAN tournaments. The reason is quite simple; by spending just a little more money, you could own a powerful gun with a scope, giving you a significant advantage in skill duels against opponents, especially AWP-ers.
Since then, Valve has released several nerf updates for these two guns by increasing their prices again, reducing accuracy when scoped, or decreasing fire rate. As a result, the AUG has almost vanished from the professional scene (once again), but the SG553 has not been overly affected and remains a popular choice among many pro players.
The price of 3,000 (only 300 more than the AK, equivalent to the price of a grenade or smoke) is still considered quite cheap as the T-side can easily acquire 1-2 SGs in the second round (if they plant the C4), and they completely outperform SMGs, FAMAS, or even the M4 of the CTs. These advantages are also part of the reason why famous CT-side maps like Nuke, Train, or Overpass have recently become more balanced, as the T-side can engage in skill duels with the CTs from a distance without being at a disadvantage.
NIKo, in an AMA on his Instagram, also shared insights and evaluations about the power of this gun.
Pimp, a former professional player and a familiar face on the analyst desk for tournaments, has also “pleaded” with Valve to nerf this gun.
Almost all professional gamers agree that this gun needs to be nerfed; however, many also believe it shouldn’t be nerfed as harshly as the AUG, but rather have its price increased or its fire rate and damage reduced to help balance it while still making it a viable option for players who enjoy using this gun. Hopefully, Valve will make reasonable adjustments to achieve balance while ensuring diversity for our favorite game.