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Astralis have officially confirmed major changes to their Counter-Strike 2 roster, announcing the departures of Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz and Emil “Magisk” Reif at the turn of the year. The move comes after a mixed 2025 season, highlighted by a Major qualification but followed by a Stage 2 exit, and signals what the organisation has described as a potential new, international outlook.

The Danish organisation says the changes mark the beginning of a longer rebuild, with recruitment no longer limited to Denmark as Astralis looks ahead to 2026.

A Farewell to Two Astralis Legends

The announcement brings an emotional goodbye to two of the most recognisable names in Astralis history. dev1ce will leave the team following an agreed transfer, while Magisk departs after his contract expires on December 31.

Astralis CEO Jonas Gundersen confirmed the decisions were made following open and ongoing discussions with both players.

“Our agreement with Emil expires on December 31, and I would like to thank him for stepping in when we needed it,” Gundersen said. “At the same time, we have reached an agreement with Nicolai on a transfer at the turn of the year, which opens up new opportunities, both for him and for the team.”

He added that while the timing was difficult, it felt right for all parties involved, stressing that both players remain part of the Astralis family and would always be welcomed back.

dev1ce Ready for a New Chapter

For dev1ce, the move ends his second stint with Astralis, which began in late 2022 following his return from Ninjas in Pyjamas. During that period, the star AWPer played a key role in guiding the team to the grand finals of PGL Astana and FISSURE Playground 1, while also helping Astralis secure their first Major appearance in three years.

“Leaving Astralis once again has not been an easy decision,” Nicolai Reedtz said. “For some time now, I have been hungry to try something new, and I am very much looking forward to starting the next chapter. I am leaving Astralis on good terms, just like last time.”

Reports suggest dev1ce is set to join 100 Thieves, where he would reunite with former Astralis captain Lukas Rossander, now serving as head coach of the project alongside rain.

Magisk’s Second Stint Comes to an End

Magisk also concludes a brief second spell with the team after rejoining in September, following Martin “stavn” Lund stepping back due to personal circumstances. Despite the short tenure, Emil Reif made an immediate impact, helping Astralis reach the playoffs at FISSURE Playground 2 and IEM Chengdu, and competing at the StarLadder Budapest Major.

Astralis praised Magisk for stepping in during a challenging period, describing his contribution as vital during a time of transition.

Astralis Open to International Recruitment

Alongside the roster changes, Astralis made it clear that the organisation is no longer restricting itself to a single market when searching for new players.

“We are not limiting ourselves to one region when recruiting new players,” the organisation stated. “We are in a phase where we will continue to build throughout 2026, and our primary focus will be on quality and the overall direction of new additions.”

While Astralis emphasised it will remain a Danish team at its core, the move represents a significant shift for an organisation historically known for fielding exclusively Danish lineups.

Current Astralis Roster Moving Forward

Following the departures, Astralis’ active roster currently stands as:

Victor “Staehr” Staehr
Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen
Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard

Casper “ruggah” Due remains as head coach, while Martin “stavn” Lund is still listed on the bench, with reports suggesting a return to the starting lineup is unlikely.

As one of Counter-Strike’s most decorated organisations, Astralis now faces a defining moment. With the exit of two iconic veterans, the challenge ahead will be finding a new identity, and potentially building a more international project capable of returning the Danes to the top of CS2.