After half a year of inactivity, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev returned to CS2 and silenced all doubts at once. Temporarily joining FaZe Clan for IEM Dallas and BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, his true resurgence came at the Major. With FaZe reaching the playoffs and s1mple emerging as one of the top-5 players of the entire tournament, it’s clear: the legend is back. And perhaps — just perhaps — he’s starting to hit his full stride again.
Redemption Arc — The Return Wasn’t Accidental
This comeback wasn’t just a lucky coincidence. Long before FaZe reached out, s1mple had already started changing his life. In his own words:
I had already started changing my life — no more alcohol, I was going to the gym. And then it all just happened — rain messaged me about joining FaZe.
This wasn’t just about CS2 — it was about mindset, discipline, and timing. That mental reset laid the foundation for everything that followed. s1mple himself described it as fate. He was ready, and FaZe arrived at just the right moment.
S1mple’s Time with Falcons — A Forgettable Trial
s1mple had two short stints with Team Falcons — one in April 2024 as a stand-in for a single tournament, and another during the Asian RMR in Shanghai later that year. Unfortunately, both campaigns ended without much to celebrate. Falcons failed to qualify, and s1mple’s performance was inconsistent at best.
His ratings fluctuated from 0.53 to 1.72, averaging around 1.05 — far from the dominance fans were used to. These underwhelming showings didn’t just hurt his stats; they nearly shattered the community’s trust in his comeback. Several analysts openly questioned whether s1mple still had what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Back in the Spotlight: FaZe Comeback in 2025
After months away, s1mple joined FaZe for IEM Dallas and the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. But despite the hype, the move was met with mixed reactions across the community. Some believed the king could rise again — others were convinced his era was over. IEM Dallas turned into chaos, with FaZe forced to play with two stand-ins, and many questioned whether the s1mple experiment was already failing.
Still, there was hope — and the Austin Major became the true test. YNk was among the first to react:
FaZe with the ALL IN! And the best chance yet for s1mple in CS2. If karrigan makes this work, it will be his masterpiece.
Thorin, who had urged FaZe to sign s1mple back in 2024, chimed in:
We used to pray for times like these!
The expectations were sky-high, the pressure immense, and s1mple had everything to prove.
At the Major:
- s1mple averaged a 1.35 rating across 5 maps — top-5 in the entire event.
- His KD differential was +31, with 0.82 KPR and only 0.51 DPR.
- He delivered monster games vs. The MongolZ (1.84), MOUZ (1.30), and Aurora (1.10).
Even with the AWP still feeling underwhelming in CS2, s1mple brought back his signature flicks, crisp headshots, and cold-blooded clutches. It was dominance in motion.
S1mple’s Form Compared to His Past
s1mple’s golden CS:GO years — from 20172021 — saw him crowned the best player in the world. He carried NAVI with HLTV ratings over 1.30, dozens of MVPs, and a Major title in 2021.
In 2023, during NAVI’s English-speaking rebuild, he remained strong with a 1.13 average rating. But in 2024, his stats dropped to a career-low of 0.98 — the worst in his professional history. Why? Because that year, s1mple only played a handful of matches for Team Falcons in two short, scattered stints. And the truth is — he wasn’t fully invested. The fire wasn’t there. These weren’t structured campaigns with long-term goals, but rather chaotic attempts to stay in the game.
His performances reflected that lack of motivation, with wildly inconsistent form and little to no impact on results. What we saw in 2024 was not a decline of skill — but a temporary burnout. Now, with purpose and a clear mindset, he’s showing what happens when that competitive hunger returns.
Now, just a few months into his return:
- 1.09 average rating in the past 3 months
- 1.35 at the Major
- Top-tier form in high-stakes matches
That level of rebound is extremely rare — and only achievable by a player like s1mple.
We’ve seen other pros attempt comebacks, but very few have delivered at this level. One notable example is nitr0, who stepped away from CS:GO in 2020 to compete in VALORANT. After nearly two years, he returned to Counter-Strike and eventually joined NRG as IGL in CS2. His leadership helped the team qualify for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, but they failed to progress past Stage 1.
While nitr0 showed that a return is possible, his story highlights how difficult it is to regain peak form, especially after switching games and roles. In contrast, s1mple hasn’t just returned — he’s reasserted himself as one of the best in the world.
FaZe with s1mple — A Real Threat Again
Before s1mple joined, FaZe was struggling. Their best result in early 2025 was a 3rd-place finish at PGL Bucharest, but otherwise, they consistently failed to make playoffs. The roster had clear problems:
- ropz’s departure left the team without its key closer and mid-round voice.
- broky, once a top-tier AWPer, was in poor form and losing confidence.
- karrigan was under pressure to reinvent a system without his trusted pieces.
The firepower wasn’t there. The voice wasn’t there. And the identity felt shaky. Enter s1mple — and everything changed.
With s1mple anchoring the AWP, FaZe didn’t just gain star power; they regained structure, control, and a winning formula. His presence gave direction to a team that had lost its core voice. It was less about replacing broky and more about reestablishing FaZe’s DNA.
What makes this story even more poetic is how closely the current FaZe resembles NAVI 2018, the team where s1mple flourished:
- karrigan — the experienced IGL, like Zeus
- rain — the ever-consistent veteran, much like Edward
- frozen — the sharp, methodical rifler, mirroring electronic
- EliGE — the volatile firepower, a modern flamie
- And s1mple — the centerpiece once again
This familiar structure may be exactly why he thrives here. FaZe gives him the same kind of system he once dominated in — but cleaner, calmer, more mature.
In contrast to his chaotic stint with Falcons — where roles were unclear and cohesion was lacking — FaZe offered something he desperately needed: order. Even with new faces, the atmosphere feels like a return to something comfortable. And that comfort is translating into results.
The Comeback has already happened
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has done the impossible: returned from hiatus not as a shadow of his former self, but as a dominant force once again. At the Major, he was among the best in the world — statistically, tactically, and mentally. His hunger is back. His discipline is stronger. And his name is once again feared on the server.
Let the skeptics — even rising stars like donk — say what they will. Even if FaZe fall short in the playoffs, nothing will change the truth: s1mple is back. Not just in the server, but in full force. The comeback isn’t a theory — it’s a fact.
He’s Back — Now Make Your Call in the Skin.Club Pick’em
S1mple’s comeback has shaken the scene, and the playoffs are in full swing. The question is — do you believe he can go all the way? Take part in the Skin.Club Playoffs Pick’em Challenge and make your predictions count: build your full playoff bracket, pick your MVP (is it s1mple?), choose the team you think will win it all, and earn CS2 skins based on your accuracy. Whether you’re backing FaZe, betting on Vitality’s run, or putting faith in MOUZ, every correct pick brings you closer to top-tier prizes — all the way up to the legendary AWP | Dragon Lore. The legend has returned. The rest is up to you.
