CS2: s1mple joins BC.GAME after 9 years with Natus Vincere

The news had been anticipated for some time, but the announcement still sent shockwaves through the community: Oleksandr "⁠s1mple⁠" Kostyliev and his organization of nine years, Natus Vincere, have officially parted ways on July 28, marking the end of the Ukrainian Counter-Strike star’s contract. Shortly after, BC.GAME stunned the community further by announcing s1mple as a starting player.

Joining NAVI in August 2016 from Team Liquid, the Ukrainian prodigy quickly ascended to the top, becoming one of the greatest legends in Valve’s FPS. Over nine years with the organization, he won dozens of elite CS:GO tournaments, including the holy grail for any player—a Major. That long-awaited title finally came in Stockholm 2021, after narrowly missing out in London in 2018. He also captured an Intel Grand Slam and was named HLTV’s Player of the Year three times. His consistency at the highest level is evident in his unprecedented eight-year streak in HLTV’s top 10 players list, from 2016 to 2023.

The release of CS2 in late 2023 marked a turning point, abruptly halting both his dominance and regular playtime. From that moment on, s1mple took a step back from competition, appearing only occasionally. NAVI loaned him to Team Falcons at the end of 2024 for the Shanghai Major qualifiers, which ended in disappointment. In 2025, he briefly stood in for Helvijs "broky" Saukants on FaZe Clan during two events: IEM Dallas and the Austin Major, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Now, the Ukrainian AWPer is beginning a new chapter—this time not as a stand-in, but as a full member of a new squad likely to be built around him. BC.GAME, an organization born from a casino and betting platform, seems to be making a serious move, whether to increase visibility or to chase competitive success. s1mple will reunite with Nemanja "⁠nexa⁠" Isaković, the former G2 in-game leader who has been working on building a roster since early 2025. Currently ranked 67th in Valve’s Regional Ranking System, BCG is still far from the top tier. But unlike Riot titles, CS2 remains an open ecosystem—giving teams the chance to grind their way up.

The current lineup also includes German player Luca "⁠pr1metapz⁠" Voigt from BIG Academy. The full roster has not yet been revealed, as BC.GAME is taking advantage of the post-Major shuffle to finalize its rebuild. Only time will tell whether this gamble will pay off.