Contraband Skins: The M4A4 Howl and the Story of Art Theft
The Birth of a Legend: The Huntsman Collection
The Art Theft Scandal Breaks
Valve's Unprecedented Response
- Bans and Revocations: The creators, Auzzii and sic, were permanently banned from the Steam Workshop. All proceeds they received from the Huntsman Case were revoked.
- Removal from the Drop Pool: The M4A4 Howl and the Howling Dawn sticker were immediately removed from the Huntsman Weapon Case and the corresponding sticker capsules. They would never be dropped or unboxed again.
- The Redesign: Valve's internal art team completely redesigned the M4A4 Howl and the Howling Dawn sticker. They removed the stolen "Aggression" artwork and replaced it with an original, Valve-created design that maintained the spirit of a roaring, fiery wolf but was legally distinct.
- The "Contraband" Tier: To reflect the extraordinary circumstances, Valve changed the rarity of all existing Howls and Howling Dawn stickers from "Covert" (Red) to a brand new, one-of-a-kind rarity tier: Contraband (Gold).
