All eyes on s1mple’s CS2 future after superstar declares ‘Sasha needs Na’Vi’

Counter-Strike legend s1mple has shared a candid update regarding his future in the Valve esport, saying he’s as motivated as ever and is tired of “doing nothing” but acknowledges it’s tough to return to a team that has found immense success since his CS2 hiatus began.

The 26-year-old Counter-Strike superstar talked about his return in a series of posts on his Telegram account last weekend as the glamorous IEM Cologne event rolled on without him in attendance. “There are things that are hard to talk about, but the motivation never faded,” s1mple said in the update. It’s “just a matter of time” until he makes a return, he added, though he didn’t give a hard date as to when we’ll see him hit the server.

S1mple went on to add a comment about his team NAVI, who fell at the hands of Team Vitality in the IEM Cologne grand final. While he was overjoyed with the org’s performance, he believes they lack “professional egoism” which frustrates s1mple as this is something he thinks will hold the team back from establishing an “era” in CS2—but he did say they had plenty more time to establish themselves.

Following s1mple’s sudden decision to take a break from competing last October, NAVI—now with w0nderful wielding the big green—have gone from strength to strength in CS2, taking out the Copenhagen Major and finishing runner-up at both IEM Cologne and BLAST Premier Spring. Riflers b1t and iM are now posting their best event performances in some time and the squad under Aleksib and B1ad3’s leadership continues to evolve and grow.

S1mple’s return to the line-up in its state may disrupt this delicate balance the CS2 team has worked so hard to foster; a fact not lost on the superstar. S1mple said in a translated voice message it’s “not easy to start playing professional CS again” when part of an org that “can’t sell you because you are too expensive to be sold.”

S1mple has called NAVI home since 2016, but should the team keep on with its huge success on the biggest stage, how can he return? His only route to a CS2 return may lie with his contract expiring at NAVI and a new stint elsewhere—something he’s already explored with a short (and rather unsuccessful) run with Team Falcons.

Should NAVI drop from here, s1mple’s return in the black-and-yellow jersey would then be assured; otherwise, expect a long, long line of suitors bidding for the Counter-Strike legend, regardless of his short CS2 career.