They’ve taken over VALORANT. They’ve made waves in League. They’ve even cracked Call of Duty. But there’s still one title where Karmine Corp and Gentle Mates are missing: Counter-Strike. You’ve likely heard of these French esports powerhouses led by influencers. Their impact on streaming numbers has helped reshape the competitive gaming landscape. And while they’ve successfully made waves across almost every major title, one game remains untouched by their influence: Counter-Strike.
Both Gentle Mates and Karmine Corp have considered jumping into CS, but neither has taken the plunge — at least, not yet. So, what’s holding them back?
Standing in the Shadow of Vitality
In games like Rocket League (RLCS), VALORANT (VCT EMEA), and League of Legends (LEC), these two clubs are already competing with the elite and often going head-to-head with Team Vitality, France’s top performance-based esports organization.
#VCTEMEA 2025 Stage 1 – Top Matches of Week 3:
🥇 @KarmineCorp vs @gentlemates
🥈 @FNATIC vs @ApeksValorant
🥉 @HereticsVal vs @TeamVitalityVAL pic.twitter.com/8EiMVJ62kY— Esports Charts 🇺🇦 (@EsportsCharts) April 13, 2025
But in Counter-Strike, Vitality has become not just the French reference, but a global powerhouse. Competing with them is no longer a bonus — it’s the norm. For KC and M8, if they’re going to enter Counter-Strike, they can’t just participate — they have to win. And matching Vitality’s level comes with a hefty price tag.
One route could have been acquiring a smaller project, like 3DMAX, to build up from within. But that door seems closed.
They stay.
Nice try.Loyalty. Family. 3DMAX.#DevilNeverDies👹 pic.twitter.com/fcjpprReEt
— Team 3DMAX (@3DMAXGaming) March 26, 2025
Without a mid-tier team to back, the only entry left is straight into the top tier — and that’ll cost several million euros. It’s not beyond reach: Karmine reportedly spent €17M in late 2023 to buy into the LEC (66% of a slot from Astralis), while Gentle Mates made a major move into the Call of Duty League this year.
But spending big again, this time on Counter-Strike? That’s off the table for now.
The Sponsorship Dilemma
One major barrier is sponsorship. Gentle Mates is backed by Squeezie (10M on X, 20M on YouTube) and Gotaga (2M on X, 4.5M on YouTube), while Karmine Corp is led by Kameto (1.1M on X). These creators have enormous reach and a unique ability to engage audiences — but that influence comes with brand responsibilities.
LEC Winter 2025 – Karmine Corp’s Debut Season
Simply put, partnering with gambling, betting, crypto, or skin trading brands — the kinds of sponsors that Counter-Strike thrives on — is a non-starter for these influencer-led clubs. And those sponsors are vital to the financial structure of most top CS teams.
Passing on those partnerships means missing out on massive revenue, the kind needed to match salaries and transfer fees at the top level, especially if the goal is to rival Vitality. And your dream is gone…
LA @KarmineCorp SUR CS ? 🟦@ArthurPerticoz s'est exprimé lundi sur la tentative d'entrée sur Counter-Strike de la Karmine Corp !
À votre avis, ça arrivera ? Si oui, à quel niveau ? 👀 pic.twitter.com/09maaBsjQo
— Croissant Strike (@CroissantStrike) April 9, 2025
To compete without those endemic sponsors, these two clubs need to get creative: merchandising, player development, or mainstream brand deals. They might even attract brands that can’t advertise in other titles due to publisher restrictions. But all of that takes time to build.
The Grind Is Real
That leaves just one realistic entry point: build from the ground up — the beautiful story of Counter-Strike!
Find the right coaching staff, scout young talents, surround them with experienced veterans, and climb the competitive ladder. If there’s one esport where that kind of grind is still possible, it’s Counter-Strike.
Squeezie: "Si un move sur CS se fait un jour, on commencera avec un roster "humble" qu'on construira et fera progresser au fur et à mesure pour créer une vraie histoire" pic.twitter.com/FhbfTCcwBR
— REACTION GENTLEMATES (@M8Reactions) March 31, 2025
To bring their huge audiences along for the ride, the journey must start with something close to an academy project, focusing on long-term development, eventually finding a franchise player to build around.
Recent CS success stories prove this model works. Gambit Youngsters. MOUZ with MOUZ NXT. GamerLegion. Even stars like zont1x and donk came up through Spirit’s academy. And their new Russian talent kyousuke is knocking on the door.
Yes, it takes patience. But it also ensures financial sustainability — no need to burn through millions just to keep pace. And it opens doors to new sponsor partnerships and long-term success. One thing is clear: the day Karmine Corp or Gentle Mates enters the Counter-Strike scene, French CS will never be the same again. So, how long are we going to wait before we see one of these two clubs make it to CS?
