The Jaw-Dropping World of Ultra-Pricey In-Game Video Game Collectibles!

The game industry has surpassed both the movie and music industries in value, offering lucrative opportunities for investors and developers. While creating a game requires a substantial amount of money, the potential returns can be astonishing. However, it is not only high-profile stock market traders who are investing large sums of money into video games.

In virtual worlds, rare in-game objects accumulate with incredibly high asking prices. These prices may be so exorbitant that even the wealthiest players would have to consider remortgaging their real-life homes to afford them. While most affluent individuals may prefer to spend their wealth on extravagant possessions like yachts or football clubs, for some, owning the most expensive item in an imaginary world becomes a source of obsession. This ownership, however, is temporary, as it is bound to end once the game servers inevitably shut down.

11 The Javelin (Star Citizen)

The Javelin, an item in Star Citizen, was possibly given a name with the intention of subliminally persuading potential buyers that spending exorbitant amounts of money was enjoyable. This exclusive ship was made available only to the wealthiest players, with a limited number up for grabs at the price of $2,500, even before the game was fully released.

Players were enticed by the prospect of traversing space and engaging in battles with other spaceships alongside their friends, who were likely to be part of the game development team. However, such a purchase carried considerable risk, considering that Star Citizen had not been released yet and had the potential to be either a complete scam or just an average space shooter.

10 Blue Party Hat (RuneScape)

Originally given as a consolation prize to players during the festive season, RuneScape's iconic Blue Party Hat serves as a cautionary tale for potential hoarders, urging them to hold onto everything, no matter how insignificant. These rare hats were only obtainable once during a special event in 2001, and have not been available since, making them highly sought after.

Due to the irrational human tendency to regard rare objects (even virtual paper hats) with great reverence, this whimsical party hat has become incredibly valuable, surpassing the trading house's price limit within the game. Players who aspire to wear this functionally useless item must resort to third-party dealers and are required to pay a staggering amount of up to $4,000.

9 Zuezo & The Twin Blades Of Azzinoth (World Of Warcraft)

The tragic and legendary tale of Zuezo and the Twin Blades unfolds with a WoW player named Shak who becomes consumed by his desire for the elusive weapon. Shak's eagerness to possess the weapon leads him to offer a staggering €7,000 or approximately $9,500 USD to acquire another player's character, Zuezo, a level 70 rogue.

In a trade conducted outside the realms of the game, Shak agrees to pay this exorbitant amount in exchange for Zuezo, knowing that the weapon would be bound to the character once obtained. However, this transaction blatantly violated Blizzard's strict terms of service, provoking the wrath of the moderators. Consequently, both Zuezo and the twin blades faced a severe punishment as they were banned and completely erased from the game.

8 Burning Killer Exclusive (Team Fortress 2)

Valve initially created this brown fedora as a playful accessory for PC Gamer readers during the launch of Team Fortress 2. It later became a rare drop and gained significant attention from the community when a flaming variant emerged. This version became so popular that it reached a high asking price of 400 Buds, equivalent to $12,000, on MarketplaceTF.

Due to its unique style, one individual eventually paid the asking price and earned the privilege to wear the hat that spontaneously ignites their hair. This iconic press hat was acquired by a player in 2014.

7 Echoing Fury (Diablo 3)

Introducing the priciest item of the Diablo 3 auction house: the Echoing Fury, a one-handed mace that once fetched a staggering $15,000 or 40 billion in-game gold. This exceptional weapon experienced a surge in its damage output, thanks to a fascinating glitch or perhaps an intended feature found in a late-game patch. As a result, players were able to unleash an astonishing amount of pain upon their foes.

However, the value of the Echoing Fury has significantly decreased since then, much to the disappointment of Diablo 3 players who happen to possess this rare weapon. Fully optimizing your character in the Diablo series can undeniably be a costly endeavor. To illustrate, reports suggest that achieving the best gear in Diablo Immortal through lootboxes can set you back a hefty sum of over $600,000.

6 Dragon-Slaying Saber (Age Of Wushu)

Being a devoted fan of a game and investing a significant amount of money in luxury virtual items is one thing, but it's quite another to spend a substantial sum that could actually purchase a real-life car (or around 21,120 Hershey bars) before a game has even been fully released.

During the beta testing phase of Age Of Wushu, a year prior to its official launch, the game developers organized an auction for rare in-game weapons. Among these unique items was a meat-cleaver-like weapon known as the Dragon-Slaying Saber, which was sold for an astonishing $16,000. Hopefully, the fortunate owner of this extravagant purchase had a gratifying five years of slaying dragons, as the game eventually ceased operations in 2017.

5 Gold Magnate (Eve Online)

In today's society, purchasing anything made of gold, whether it be a pizza, a toilet, or even underwear, is generally considered tasteless. However, an exception can be made for the recent purchase of a golden virtual spaceship in the online game EVE Online. This particular buy served a noble cause, as it was made during a charity campaign called Plex for Good, which aimed to raise funds for the Australian bushfire relief. The buyer, Scott Manly, is not only a British YouTuber and gamer but also an astrophysicist. Opting for a gold-plated version of the already extremely rare Magnate ship, Manly paid a hefty sum of one million PLEX, equivalent to approximately $33,500. His decision not only earned him some extra attention but also showcased the undeniable attention-catching quality of a golden spaceship, even in the vast darkness of space within EVE Online.

4 Ethereal Flames Pink War Dog (DOTA 2)

Dogs of an exceptionally rare breed can fetch a high price, but this particular breed may be the rarest of them all. In the popular game DOTA 2, players are provided with couriers right from the beginning of the game (although not all of them are adorable little puppies), which assist by fetching items from the shops and gradually accumulating gold.

This DOTA 2 courier pet stands out with its uniquely pink coloration (unavailable on other models since an early game update), reputation as the best type of courier in the game, and a magnificent mane of fiery flames. Astonishingly, this coveted DOTA 2 courier pet set a player back a staggering $38,000.

3 Amsterdam (Second Life)

The numbers involved in this transaction are overwhelming, but the item itself is even more peculiar. In question is not a weapon or vehicle, but rather an entire city: Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. A dedicated Second Life player painstakingly recreated the city, utilizing authentic photographs of the actual place, complete with moving trams, shops, and even its more gritty elements.

Subsequently, the simulated city was auctioned online and ultimately purchased by a media company based in the Netherlands. The company acquired the virtual city for a respectable sum of $50,000, which could fund an exceptional vacation to the real-life Amsterdam.

2 Souvenir AWP Dragon Lore (Counter-Strike: GO)

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This particular item could be considered a display of wealth, but only if the owner lacks the ability to shoot quickly, accurately, or from a long distance. In the game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this sniper rifle can be obtained from loot boxes. However, due to its low drop rate, players taking a gambling approach may find it too risky to spend money on.

One player in CS: GO found a way to bypass the tedious task of spending a substantial amount on virtual slot machines. Instead, they purchased the stunning, cumin-colored re-skin for $61,000. Whether this investment will make them a better player, wealthier, or burdened with debt remains unknown.

1 Calypso (Entropia Universe)

The Entropia Universe is renowned for its extravagant acquisitions and the Swedish developers at MindArk, who unapologetically prioritized capitalism over gameplay. Jon Jacobs, a player, took out a mortgage on his house to purchase an asteroid for $10,000, on which he constructed "Club Neverdie."

Using the club as a hub for player housing, Jacobs profited from other players' support and eventually sold it for an astounding $635,000. Another player, Buzz Eric Lightyear, made headlines by purchasing the space station above the game's primary planet, Calypso, for $330,000. However, the most remarkable sale eclipsed all others: MindArk sold the entire planet Calypso to SEE Virtual Words, another studio, for a staggering $6,000,000.