Blockbuster transfers. Who doesn’t love them? Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Juventus, Kylian Mbappé from PSG to Real Madrid, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari, Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. We all love the thrilling sensation of seeing a change so surreal it feels possible only in a video game—or in our own imagination. But those are exactly the kinds of transfers that one specific, emblematic Counter-Strike organization has always specialized in. Of course, it’s FaZe Clan.
The American organization has a long history not only of playing entertaining CS but also of making some of the most courageous decisions ever: bringing in NiKo from MOUZ, olofmeister from Fnatic, and GuardiaN from NaVi back in 2017; buying coldzera out of MIBR; Twistzz from Liquid; ropz from MOUZ; and most recently—EliGE from Complexity Gaming. The list of massive names FaZe has been able to attract goes on and on. But regardless of the deal that inspired this article being just a loan, acquiring “The GOAT” of Counter-Strike—Major winner and MVP with NaVi at the PGL Stockholm Major 2021, and 3-time HLTV Top 20 #1—Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev—might top it all.
The News
The date is May 5th, the time—12:00 CEST—and FaZe has just announced the end of Latvian AWPer Helvijs “broky” Saukants’s five-and-a-half-year stint with the main team. Following FaZe Clan’s difficult start to the year—with their best result being a 3rd-place finish at PGL Bucharest 2025, without any of Vitality, Spirit, MOUZ, or NaVi present—it’s fair to say people weren’t shocked to see changes. The surprise came from the timing.
Since joining FaZe in 2019, broky has established himself as one of the most electric players when in his comfort zone. Once he gets rolling, the Latvian clutcher becomes one of the scariest AWPers to face—relentless, hyper-aggressive, and as impudent as it gets. But the last couple of months were far from flawless, neither for broky nor for FaZe. The team struggled to take down any of the best in the world and was consistently outclassed by opponents they were usually expected to beat. The same squad that once challenged Team Spirit at the Perfect World Shanghai Major now couldn’t even make a single Grand Final.
FaZe was already in a tough spot toward the end of 2024, and with ropz gone, it felt like more changes were inevitable. But they didn’t happen. Why? Maybe it was the Grand Final run at the Shanghai Major, or maybe they believed bringing in an experienced and skilled veteran like Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski would be enough to revitalize a seemingly soulless project. Either way, it didn’t work—and broky ended up paying the price.
Many could’ve seen changes coming for FaZe, but with less than a month until the start of the Major, expectations were that the “mass rebuild” would come after the season ended. Well, as mentioned earlier—FaZe is the king of being unpredictable and entertaining.
Minutes after broky’s benching was announced, FaZe Clan unveiled the signing of Ukrainian superstar—still considered the #1 Counter-Strike player of all time—s1mple, on a loan deal from Natus Vincere until the end of the Austin Major. The 27-year-old had been inactive since his second loan stint with Falcons ended in an unsuccessful attempt to storm the Shanghai Major RMR, where they lost to FaZe, SAW, and GamerLegion, managing only a win over Dynamo Eclot in a best-of-one matchup. It’s safe to say this announcement broke the internet.
“I’m really happy to see s1mple coming back. He deserves such an opportunity.” — kennyS
“Exciting to see what karrigan will cook now.” — GeT_RiGhT
“If karrigan makes this work, it will be his masterpiece.” — YNk
“We used to pray for times like these.” — Thorin
It was official. S1mple was coming back to play his first-ever CS2 Major. The last time he participated in Counter-Strike’s most prestigious event, he was still playing with b1t, electroNic, Perfecto, and npl on NaVi—and everyone was losing their minds. The fact that he would get two weeks before IEM Dallas—where FaZe could also use ex-FURIA player Felipe “skullz” Medeiros instead of rain—and then more time to prepare for his first Major in two years… The fact that he would now play for the team that eliminated him from the BLAST Paris Major in 2023… and that he would AWP for one of the greatest IGLs in the game—it was all out and official.
But the most important question is: Can it work?
All or Nothing
No matter the discipline, very few individuals in the history of competitive sports or esports have done what s1mple has done in Counter-Strike. Pure talent, genius, a unique and unreplicable playstyle—beyond fabrication or valuation. S1mple is one of those players who always finds a way to surprise his opponents, the viewers, and maybe even his teammates with how incredible he can be.
But does that mean FaZe has any guarantee he’ll return to the level that made him an 8-time HLTV Top 20 player, Major MVP, Grand Slam winner, and 21-time MVP holder? Definitely not.
“This is an all-in move. We are going for the trophy at the Major—even if Sasha is only a stand-in. I know we can win.” — Finn “karrigan” Andersen
Objectively speaking, since moving to the NaVi bench in October 2023, s1mple has played just 16 professional maps—his only 16 officials in CS2. And those weren’t even played in one stint with Falcons, but over two separate loan periods. It’s impossible to know what s1mple will look like individually—and FaZe knows that.
Current individual form, awareness of meta changes, communication, motivation level—even his and EliGE’s ability to move past personal issues from their time together on Team Liquid in 2016—these are all factors that, while varying in relevance, must be considered.
From FaZe Clan captain karrigan’s words, one thing is clear: FaZe has measured the risk and believes in s1mple. In reality, a team whose biggest achievement this year was a 3rd-place finish in Bucharest doesn’t have much to lose. FaZe was already in a tough spot—Vitality and Falcons punching above everyone else, MOUZ and Spirit closing the gap, and FaZe unable to convincingly challenge any of them. Regardless of broky’s potentially bad or good individual form or the team’s tendency to thrive under pressure, their chances at the Major were slim.
Does s1mple’s arrival guarantee a change? Probably not. But it makes one possible.
Players like s1mple can change a team’s atmosphere just by being there—or, as the youngsters say, by their aura. Having the “King of Counter-Strike,” eager to prove himself and reclaim his throne, could be exactly what FaZe needs. Extra motivation. New ideas. A breath of fresh air. And a risk with far more upside than downside. And the best part of it all? Well, let’s just say if s1mple indeed proves that he is still worthy of a spot on a top team, Natus Vincere’s drop in form could be the perfect opportunity for the Legend to return home. And after all, that is yet another reason for one of the greatest ever to give his absolute best in the months to come.
S1mple’s arrival might not make FaZe the best team in the world—and it probably won’t—but it will make them believe. And for an organization with their legacy, led by one of the greatest captains of all time, believing in yourself might be all you need to cause another historic upset.
Sometimes it really is that simple.
