On X, CEO Mike Rufail revealed his intentions to bring the legendary Team Envy back to the CS2 competitive scene. After acquiring the brand from OpTic Gaming, the organization is actively exploring opportunities for a return, and according to Rufail, once all the pieces fall into place, fans will be the first to know.
Team Envy’s success from 2015 to 2017
Between 2015 and 2017, Team EnVyUs showcased strong performances across numerous tournaments. They claimed victory at one Major — DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015, and also finished as runners-up at ESL One: Cologne 2015. At the time, their lineup included star players like Happy, NBK-, kioShiMa, the legendary AWPer kennyS, and apEX.
Beyond their Major win, Envy also secured titles at prestigious events such as: Global eSports Cup – Season 1, Gfinity CS:GO Invitational, World Electronic Sports Games 2016, and DreamHack Open Atlanta 2017. Over the years, the team earned more than $2 million in prize money.
One standout moment came from Happy at ESL One: Cologne 2015, where he held B site on the CT side and took down the entire TSM roster with a Desert Eagle. That play is still remembered as one of the most iconic ACEs in CS:GO history.
From 2018 onward, Envy’s roster looked vastly different from their golden era. By the time the team disbanded, none of the original star players remained. The final roster featured MICHU, Calyx, Thomas, LEGIJA, and Nifty. Unfortunately, results declined, and due to poor performance and a lack of stability, the team was disbanded.
Comments from Mike Rufail
On X, Mike Rufail — now the owner of the Envy brand — shared his plans to re-enter the CS2 scene. While no timeline or player names were confirmed, he made it clear that discussions were underway.
“We have to get Envy back into Counter-Strike. We have begun to explore all opportunities and will jump on the right one when we find it. DerangedNative and I are both excited to support a team.”
Potential players who could join Envy
Given Envy’s historic ties to the French Counter-Strike scene, a return to those roots seems like a logical direction. Currently, several experienced French players are either free agents or looking for new opportunities.
Promising players
- Thomas “Djoko” Pavoni — A young talent who is currently a free agent and has the potential to perform at a high level.
- Lukas “Lucky” Chastang — A former 3DMAX player who is looking for a new team to continue his career.
As potential project managers or even coaches, experienced players could be brought in, such as:
- Richard “shox” Papillon is a legend of French CS who has retired from his professional career. He is currently involved in influencer activities and participates in various projects. However, if he can be brought on board for this project, it would have a positive impact.
- Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt – A two-time Major winner who is open to new opportunities and could provide crucial insight and leadership in forming a competitive team.
We invite you to watch an interview in which shox talks about why he left the CS pro scene and his current life in media
SHOX’s Journey: Team Dreams to Twitch Streams #skinclub
With these options in mind, Envy has a real shot at forming a competitive lineup that balances veteran experience with youthful energy. If executed correctly, this strategy could mark the start of a successful new era for the organization in CS2.
Today, the French CS scene is thriving — Team Vitality firmly holds its place as one of the best teams in the world, consistently ranking in the top 1. Whether another French squad, like a reborn Envy, can reclaim past glory and challenge Vitality’s dominance remains to be seen. Ultimately, it will depend on whether they can assemble a high-quality and cohesive roster.
