Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev addressed the rumors about a potential permanent transfer to FaZe Clan. After stepping in to replace the team’s primary AWPer, Helvijs “broky” Saukants, fans were actively discussing the possibility of a full-time move. However, FaZe ultimately decided not to buy out s1mple’s contract from NAVI — and the player himself gave an honest explanation as to why.
This information came to light during a Twitch stream by NAVI player Justinas “jL” Lekavicius, who was recently moved to the bench.
Temporary replacement for broky and tournament appearances
During the spring season, s1mple joined FaZe as a stand-in while broky was temporarily benched. The legendary AWPer played two tournaments with the team: IEM Dallas 2025 and BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. In Dallas, FaZe placed only 9–12th, despite s1mple posting a respectable 1.11 rating.
Expectations were much higher at the Austin Major — fans hoped that with such a legendary addition, the team could challenge for the title. However, FaZe were knocked out in the playoff stage, and Kostyliev finished the tournament with a 1.13 rating.
A miracle that didn’t happen at the Major
The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 became the true test for FaZe’s updated lineup. With s1mple in the squad, they looked like legitimate title contenders. However, the anticipated breakthrough never came — FaZe were eliminated in the playoffs, exiting earlier than fans expected. s1mple ended the Major with a 1.13 rating, showing a solid performance, but it wasn’t enough to push the team forward.
“Why the hell FaZe pay for me? They saw that I’m not that good: I made mistakes in practice and played badly in the playoffs Blast Austin.”
His words weren’t just self-critical — they also helped ease pressure on FaZe, who had been facing a wave of questions about their roster plans.
Community reaction
Despite the criticism, many fans continue to support s1mple and believe in his potential. On Twitter, users shared a range of perspectives following the clip from jL’s stream.
User Damian noted:
“I mean he’s right. He played bad for his doing. And while him and FaZe had a great spark and he fits in great, broky is still in his ‘prime’ unlike s1mple.”
This comment highlighted that while s1mple meshed well with the team, broky might still be the better long-term option due to his current form.
Meanwhile, apollify had a different take:
“I still want him on FaZe I don’t care. Had a rough series but I see his potential to get back in form.”
The fan expressed confidence that s1mple’s recent struggles shouldn’t overshadow his long-term value.
And NoName404, despite being a fan of a rival star, shared a hopeful message:
“Though I’m a fan of ZywOo, I have to say s1mple will easily be back to top 10, even top 5, if he dedicates to practice as he did before.”
This reflects a common belief that with renewed motivation, s1mple can still return to the top of the Counter-Strike world.
What’s next?
It remains unclear where s1mple will continue his career — whether he returns to NAVI or seeks out a new project. Either way, his brief stint with FaZe showed that even the most decorated AWPer needs time to readjust and return to peak form.
It’s also worth noting that s1mple has repeatedly stated he would only make a full return when confident in both his shape and mindset. His short comeback with FaZe felt more like an experiment — a way to test himself under real pressure. Given his competitive drive and experience, a full-time return seems only a matter of time.
