One of North America’s most historic Counter-Strike organisations is stepping away from the game. Complexity have announced that they’re leaving CS2, ending a competitive run that stretches back more than two decades.
‼️Complexity have announced their departure from the CS2 scene due to a lack of funding.
Jason Lake and his club have supported Counter-Strike rosters since 2003 — 22 years in a row.
All that’s left is to thank Jason for his love and dedication to the game. Thank you for… pic.twitter.com/a6679eHMS8
— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 19, 2025
The news was confirmed by CEO and founder Jason Lake in a video statement posted on August 19th. In it, he explained that while the team had enjoyed strong years in 2023 and 2024, the financial struggles of 2025 have simply been too much to keep a tier-one roster afloat.
An update from @JasonBWLake pic.twitter.com/C6MQxk44Zr
— Complexity (@Complexity) August 19, 2025
“After a real strong ’23 and ’24, 2025 in the esports economy has really been challenging for us,” Lake said. “Quite simply, we have not been able to drive enough revenue to afford to properly support a tier-one team.”
An End of an Era
Complexity first entered Counter-Strike in 2004 and, apart from a brief absence in 2014, have fielded a roster ever since. In that time, they’ve built up an impressive legacy with trophies including ESWC 2005, CPL Summer 2006, and most recently, ESL Challenger Jönköping 2024.
The organisation has been through plenty of ups and downs, from selling a majority stake to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and John Goff in 2017, to being acquired by GameSquare in 2021, and then being re-acquired by Lake and an investor group for $10.36 million in 2024. But despite its long history and passionate following, shrinking sponsorship opportunities and revenue shortfalls in North America finally forced their hand.
ESL Challenger winners 🏆
Congrats Complexity pic.twitter.com/AzsCxRMojv— Aileen Rosas @EWC (@AileenRosasA) June 16, 2024
“As you can imagine, it’s a tough day for us. We love Counter-Strike very much,” Lake said. “We could have probably dragged things out a bit longer, but we want to make sure we do right by our players and the division, and this was the right thing for us to do at this time.”
What Happens Next
Lake confirmed that while Complexity will no longer compete in CS2, the team will complete its commitment to the PrizePicks Revival Series before closing the chapter on Counter-Strike. For the first time since 2014, Complexity will not have a roster in the game that helped make the organisation a household name.
There are no immediate plans for a return either. Lake was upfront about the current struggles, saying: “We have no immediate plans for that until one of the aforementioned challenges are solved.”
Farewell, But Not Forgotten
Complexity’s departure coincides with the transfer of four of its players, JT, Grim, hallzerk, and nicx, to Passion UA, along with their long-time coach T.c. That story has already been dubbed “Complexity 2.0,” showing that while the banner may be gone, the legacy of its core roster will continue elsewhere.
For Lake, the toughest part is leaving behind a legacy that’s spanned 20 years. He took full responsibility for the decision, telling fans: “I know this is disappointing to a lot of people, and I get it. I promise we did everything we could. On some level I failed you all, so I’m sorry about that.”
From its earliest wins to its final season, Complexity’s place in Counter-Strike history is secure. As the CS2 world moves on, the scene won’t soon forget one of its longest-standing organisations.