Valve have pushed another update to the Counter-Strike 2 AnimGraph 2 beta branch, landing in the early hours of 18 April with a focused round of animation fixes, movement refinements, and a handful of bug corrections. The patch is small on paper, but it continues a steady drip of changes that has the CS2 community openly asking when the new animation system is going to leave beta and reach the live game.

The update is only available through the animgraph_2_beta depot on Steam, which players need to opt into manually. Official Valve matchmaking is not available in the beta build, and connecting to a server running a different build can trigger a fatal error message on the client side.

What Changed In The Latest AnimGraph 2 Patch

The patch notes are short, with every change targeting either visual polish or a specific animation bug. None of the adjustments alter weapon stats, economy, or map rotation, which puts this firmly in the technical foundation category rather than a gameplay update.

Here is the full list of changes in the 18 April beta build:

• Fixed viewmodel and worldmodel HE grenade throw
• Adjusted foot IK when idle
• Minor polish for turn animations when planting
• Fixed fast-weapon switching when holding inspect
• Minor adjustments to viewmodel animations
• Adjusted counter-strafe animation head dip amount

The counter-strafe head dip change is the headline item for most players who have been testing the branch. Excessive head bobbing during quick stops has been one of the more visible complaints since CS2 launched, and Valve appear to be dialling it back gradually rather than overhauling it in one go.

How To Opt Into The CS2 Beta Branch

Players who want to test the AnimGraph 2 changes themselves need to switch their CS2 install to the beta depot through Steam. The process is the same as opting into any other Valve beta:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. From the Counter-Strike 2 page, open the Properties window from the Manage menu.
3. Select the Betas tab.
4. Choose the beta branch you want to opt into from the dropdown.
5. Launch Counter-Strike 2 to play with the beta changes applied.

To roll back to the standard public version, select None from the same dropdown. Switching either direction requires a re-download of the relevant files, and the size depends on how many assets have changed between builds. Bug reports and feedback can be sent to csgoteamfeedback@valvesoftware.com with the subject line AG2 Beta.

Read More: karrigan Reportedly Set To Join Falcons Ahead of IEM Cologne Major, Replacing kyxsan

Read More: Furia FalleN Announces CS2 Retirement at End of 2026 During Emotional IEM Rio Speech

Community Reaction To The New Beta Build

Reaction inside the CS2 community has split fairly cleanly into two camps. Players testing the branch are largely positive about the direction, particularly around movement.

Dataminer Thour posted a side-by-side comparison between the first AnimGraph 2 build and the 18 April patch, noting that the reduction in head dip is paired with cleaner leg behaviour during counter-strafing. Thour added in a follow-up reply that “a few more updates and this game might be saved”, a sentiment echoed by other testers who have said strafes now look more natural and that movement is starting to feel closer to CS:GO.

Analyst SPUNJ also publicly thanked players running the beta, calling it a service to the wider community. The framing matters here, because Valve are effectively using an open beta to crowdsource quality assurance on one of the biggest technical reworks CS2 has had since launch.

Shout-out to all the people playtesting the animgraph2 branch. You are doing us all a service. https://t.co/qPNlcHAXBO

— Chad Burchill (@SPUNJ) April 18, 2026

The other half of the conversation is less patient. Comments on the patch repeatedly ask when AnimGraph 2 will be merged into the live client, with players posting variations of “release this already”, “it’s been 2-3 years”, and requests for the system to at least be enabled in Deathmatch and Casual queues. A separate thread of complaints continues to push Valve on anti-cheat issues, bots in Casual, and a perceived lack of new content.

Why AnimGraph 2 Matters For Competitive CS2

Movement readability has been one of the most consistent criticisms aimed at CS2 since release, covering everything from awkward player models on enemy peeks to leg animations that do not match what the player is actually doing. AnimGraph 2 is Valve’s answer to that, rebuilding the underlying animation system rather than patching individual cases.

If the system ships in a polished state, the practical effects for competitive play are significant. Cleaner enemy model animations make duels easier to read at a glance, more responsive movement reduces the gap between input and what the character does on screen, and better strafe animations help with pre-aim timing. Pros and casual players have been pointing at the same problems for different reasons, which is part of why the beta has gathered the kind of cross-community support that most CS2 updates do not.

When AnimGraph 2 Could Hit The Live Game

Valve have not given a release window for AnimGraph 2 on the public branch, and there is no indication in the patch notes that one is imminent. What the beta cadence does suggest is that the system is in a refinement phase rather than an early test, with patches now focused on small visual tweaks rather than core behaviour.

Part of the community is betting on a live rollout within the next few weeks based on that cadence, but that remains speculation until Valve confirm anything directly. The pattern of small, frequent beta patches before larger public updates is consistent with how Valve have handled previous technical overhauls, so the next concrete signal will likely be either a noticeably larger beta patch or the appearance of AnimGraph 2 assets in the public depot.

The post CS2 AnimGraph 2 Beta Gets Another Patch as Valve Tightens Movement and Animations appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Vitality’s 18-match winning run is over. Falcons ended the French side’s dominant streak with a 1-2 victory in the Group A upper bracket final at IEM Rio 2026, sending themselves straight through to the semi-finals and forcing the tournament favourites to take the long way round.

The series went the distance, with Falcons taking Mirage 13-10, Vitality responding with a 13-6 drubbing on Dust2, and the decider on Nuke going to overtime before Falcons closed it out 16-14. For a team that had not dropped a match since before IEM Katowice, it was the kind of loss that reshapes a bracket.

Nuke Decider Slips Away In Overtime

Nuke was where the match was lost rather than won. Vitality started the decider on a brutal 3-9 scoreline on the Terrorist side, and the defensive half that followed was one of the gutsier showings of the tournament. Robin “ropz” Kool dragged the team back into contention almost single-handedly, and for a stretch it looked like they might actually pull off the comeback.

They could not quite get it done. Falcons held their composure in the closing rounds of regulation, forced overtime, and edged the extra frames to take the map and the series. Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and company are now through to the final four without having to play another group stage minute.

ZywOo Goes Missing As Ropz Carries The Load

The headline individual story from Vitality’s side is Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut having one of his quieter series of the year. The French star finished with a 0.94 rating across the three maps, well below his usual output, and never really threatened to take over a round the way he normally does.

Ropz filled the gap as best he could. His secondary AWP work on Dust2 was a big part of why that map was as one-sided as it was, and his performance on Nuke kept Vitality breathing when the series looked like slipping away early. A 1.31 rating in a losing effort tells the story of a player doing too much on his own.

m0NESY Extends Dominant IEM Rio Run

On the other side of the server, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov continued what has been a ridiculous tournament for him personally. The Falcons AWPer posted a 1.41 series rating with a 59-45 K-D and 90.5 ADR, leading the IEM Rio stats charts by a comfortable margin heading into the playoffs.

He was the most consistent presence on the server across all three maps, and on Nuke specifically he came through in the rounds that mattered. Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski also deserves a mention for his Mirage performance, which set the tone for the series in the opening map.

Read More: karrigan Reportedly Set To Join Falcons Ahead of IEM Cologne Major, Replacing kyxsan

Read More: IEM Rio 2026 Playoff Bracket Locked In – NAVI Get Vitality Rematch

Vitality’s Road To The Grand Slam Gets Harder

Vitality had come into IEM Rio eyeing their second ESL Grand Slam, and before this series they had barely been tested. Cracks had started to show in the group stage, where they scraped past a G2 side playing with a stand-in, and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire has openly spoken about the mental weight of chasing the Grand Slam.

Now the bracket gets ugly. They drop to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the other group’s lower final between Natus Vincere and Aurora. After that, they will need to beat two of FURIA, MOUZ, Spirit and Falcons to reach the Farmasi Arena for the grand final. Four Bo3s in a row against top-tier competition is a very different proposition to the path they would have had as Group A winners.

VRS And Rankings Impact

The Valve Regional Standings took note as well. Falcons picked up +47 points to move to 1866 and climb to fifth in the world rankings, one of the bigger single-match swings of the season so far. Vitality dropped 24 points to 2069, which still keeps them comfortably in the top tier but tightens the gap at the top.

For Falcons, the win is also a statement. They have been building towards this kind of result for months, and taking down the best team in the world in a full Bo3 is the clearest evidence yet that the roster has clicked. The semi-final spot is locked in, and they now get to watch the rest of the bracket tear itself apart while they rest.

The post Falcons Snap Vitality 18 Match Streak To Book IEM Rio Semi-Final Spot appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Belgian Counter-Strike player Nicolas Keoz Dgus has gone public with serious allegations against Ukrainian esports organisation kONO.ECF, claiming the team breached his contract by failing to pay his guaranteed salary for December.

The situation has quickly escalated into a public back and forth, with Keoz accusing the organisation of pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit him, while kONO strongly denies any wrongdoing and insists all obligations have been fulfilled.

Keoz Says Contract Was Breached

Keoz first shared his claims on social media on 18 January, stating that kONO had not paid his guaranteed December salary despite a clear contractual obligation to do so by a specific date each month. According to the player, he was only asking for the minimum salary guaranteed in his contract.

KONO has breached my contract.

Organisation of Ukrainian football player @kono10official have not paid my guaranteed salary for December, despite a valid obligation to pay no later than the X day of each month.

I am asking for nothing more than the minimum salary guaranteed by…

— Keoz (@KeozBEAST) January 18, 2026

Instead of payment, Keoz alleges he was met with pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit his reputation. He later added that when he continued to request payment, he was told the amount was insignificant and that he should stop insisting, a remark he says misses the point entirely.

“This is not about making someone richer,” Keoz explained. “This is about respecting a signed contract and basic professional standards.”

Roster Inactivity And Salary Dispute

A key part of Keoz’s argument centres on the team’s inactivity in December. He stated that he was not officially benched, suspended, or sanctioned in any way. Instead, he claims the organisation simply chose not to use the roster during that period.

According to Keoz, this decision does not allow for salary reductions under the terms of his contract, regardless of match participation or internal team decisions. Despite this, he says payment was still withheld.

Match-Fixing Claims And Integrity Review

The dispute took a more serious turn when Keoz revealed that he was later confronted with accusations of match-fixing, based on what he described as anonymous information. He was asked to undergo a polygraph test, something he claims only surfaced after the organisation had already breached the contract.

Keoz stressed that integrity investigations in esports follow established procedures and should never be used as a tool to avoid paying salaries already owed. While he stated he is willing to cooperate with any legitimate investigation, he noted that polygraph tests are not part of standard ESIC procedures to his knowledge.

Legal Action And Public Statement

After more than a month of silence, Keoz said he issued a formal legal demand to kONO and informed the organisation that he would speak publicly if the matter was not resolved. He maintained that he wanted to settle the issue privately and professionally, but felt left with no alternative.

The organisation is co-owned by former Ukrainian international footballer Yevhen Konoplyanka, whom Keoz publicly named in his posts, expressing hope that the co-owners are aware of how players are being treated.

kONO Responds To The Allegations

On 19 January, kONO issued a detailed statement through its official account, addressing the situation and pushing back against Keoz’s claims. The organisation confirmed that roster changes are in progress but said official announcements will only be made later this month.

All obligations have always been fulfilled toward everyone. However, when someone attempts to “exploit loopholes” or issue ultimatums, this is unacceptable, and it must be understood that such actions may receive a response.#kONOGO

— kONO.ECF (@konoecf) January 19, 2026

kONO denied ever withholding salary payments unlawfully and stated that all contractual and additional obligations have always been fulfilled. The organisation claimed that Keoz had an outstanding financial debt to the team, which should have been resolved months earlier.

According to kONO, both parties agreed that the full salary payment would be made in the final month of the year, taking mutual settlements into account. The organisation acknowledged that the phrase about the amount being insignificant was used, but said it was part of a private conversation and not intended to dismiss payment obligations.

Organisation Addresses Integrity Review And Communication

kONO also rejected claims that the roster was deliberately kept inactive as a form of punishment, calling such suggestions illogical given the financial cost and lack of sporting benefit.

Regarding the integrity review, the organisation stated that Keoz was asked to participate in a standard preventive procedure based on information received, and emphasised that no conclusions or public accusations were made against him.

The organisation further claimed that communication was moved to a strictly formal, written format at the player’s request, and alleged that it later received messages from individuals claiming to represent Keoz, warning of reputational consequences if payment was not made within three days. kONO said it requested proof of authority in line with confidentiality rules and received no further response.

The statement concluded by saying the organisation does not accept ultimatums or reputational pressure, and that all disputes will be handled strictly within legal and contractual frameworks.

What Happens Next

At the time of writing, Keoz has confirmed he is pursuing legal action, while kONO has stated it will not respond further to messages from the player regarding the dispute. Despite the controversy, the team has continued to compete, recently returning to HLTV action after its inactive December period.

The case highlights ongoing concerns around contracts, payments, and player protections in esports, an industry that continues to grow faster than its regulatory frameworks.

The post Keoz Accuses kONO Of Pressure And Defamation In Unpaid Salary Dispute appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FaZe Clan has confirmed it will double down on esports moving into 2026, following the sudden exit of several high profile creators from its influencer roster over the Christmas period.

It’s heartbreaking to see this era of FaZe come to a close. It’s beyond tragic the way it all ended, it’s been an emotional few days.

We wish the boys the best not only as creators, but as people too. FaZe has always felt like a family, so we will always unconditionally root for… pic.twitter.com/mM0hybm89E

— FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) December 28, 2025

The organisation addressed the situation in a public statement, acknowledging the end of its current creator era while stressing that its competitive teams will continue to operate as normal. According to FaZe, nothing on the esports side is changing, with Counter-Strike and other competitive divisions now becoming the brand’s primary focus.

This clarification comes after days of speculation online, sparked by a wave of departure announcements across X and Twitch.

What Happened to FaZe’s Creator Roster

Over the past week, creators including Adapt, Lacy, Silky, JasonTheWeen, StableRonaldo and others confirmed they had stepped away from FaZe Clan. Their exits followed reported contract talks with new management that ultimately broke down.

Bloomberg reported that the dispute centred around HardScope, a new creator focused company launched earlier this month. The company is led by Matt Kalish, who invested $11 million for a 49 percent stake in FaZe Media in May 2024 and joined the board.

Kalish reportedly described FaZe’s previous financial structure as unsustainable, with creators given the option to sign with HardScope or go independent. Several long time members chose to leave instead, effectively closing the chapter on the well known FaZe house era.

FaZe later confirmed the creator side of the business would no longer be its priority, describing the situation as emotional but necessary.

Esports Operates as a Separate Entity

One key point FaZe has repeatedly stressed is that its esports operations are completely separate from its creator business.

FaZe Esports is fully controlled by GameSquare, which completed the acquisition of FaZe’s parent company in March 2024 in a deal worth $17 million. This structure means the influencer exits have no direct impact on competitive teams, staffing or tournament plans.

Content creator Kaysan Ghasseminejad also addressed the situation on stream, confirming his own departure from the creator roster while stating he will continue to run and grow FaZe’s esports program.

“There is going to be no impact whatsoever on FaZe esports,” Kaysan said. “The CS team is fine.”

Counter-Strike Remains the Priority

FaZe’s Counter-Strike 2 roster is expected to be at the centre of this renewed focus. The team ended 2025 on a high with an unlikely run to the grand final at the Budapest Major, after nearly being eliminated during Stage 1.

While FaZe struggled to consistently challenge for trophies throughout the year, the Major performance offered a reminder of the roster’s ceiling under in game leader Finn “karrigan” Andersen.

The team will open its 2026 campaign at BLAST Bounty, which begins on January 12 with an online stage featuring 32 teams. With fewer distractions at an organisational level, fans will be watching closely to see whether added resources translate into stronger results.

Community Reaction and What Comes Next

Reaction across the Counter-Strike community has largely been mixed but measured. Many fans expressed relief that the esports division remains untouched, while others questioned whether the loss of high earning creators could still affect FaZe’s long term finances.

What is clear is that FaZe is entering 2026 as a more streamlined organisation, one that is openly prioritising competitive success over lifestyle content.

Whether this reset helps FaZe return to consistent title contention remains to be seen, but for now, the message from the organisation is simple, esports comes first.

The post FaZe Clan Confirms Esports Will Be Its Main Focus After Creator Exodus appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The MongolZ have officially parted ways with Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal, bringing an end to his short but impactful spell as the team’s stand-in. The announcement was shared on the organisation’s social media channels, thanking the veteran player for stepping up when the team needed him most.

You stepped in. You delivered.

Thank you for the energy, the laughs, and the impact.
One heck of a stand-in.

Respect always ❤️ pic.twitter.com/b2EB2IqnYi

— The MongolZ (@1mongolz) December 27, 2025

“You stepped in. You delivered,” the message read. “Thank you for the energy, the laughs, and the impact. One heck of a stand-in. Respect always.”

A Short Stint That Exceeded Expectations

Controlez joined The MongolZ on October 23, 2025, as an emergency replacement while the team navigated roster uncertainty. At 28 years old, he was brought in to cover for star rifler Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold and quickly proved his value.

Across three events, controlez helped The MongolZ reach the playoffs twice, including strong runs at Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu and the StarLadder Budapest Major. Statistically, he delivered an above-average 1.05 rating overall, outperforming expectations for a last-minute stand-in.

His most eye-catching performance came during Stage 3 of the Budapest Major, where he averaged a 1.23 rating before struggling in his first Major playoff appearance, which ultimately became his final match with the team.

Event Results With controlez

During his time wearing The MongolZ jersey, controlez competed in three major international tournaments:

• IEM Chengdu 2025, 5th–6th place, $12,500
• BLAST Rivals Fall 2025, 7th–8th place, $10,000
• StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, 5th–8th place, $45,000

While the team did not secure a trophy, the results were widely seen as respectable given the circumstances and the sudden roster changes.

The MongolZ Roster Situation Moving Forward

With controlez departing, The MongolZ are once again down to four active players. Head coach Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat now has several options on the table, including promoting young talent Anarbileg “cobrazera” Uuganbayar or potentially recalling Senzu from inactivity.

The current lineup stands as:

• Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren
• Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold
• Ayush “mzinho” Batbold
• Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch

Coach: Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat
Inactive: Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold

What’s Next for controlez?

Controlez has not yet commented publicly on his future plans for 2026. He is currently listed as inactive on Chinggis Warriors, the organisation he represented earlier in his career and where he made his first Major appearance in 2025.

Whether he returns to the Chinggis Warriors lineup or explores new opportunities elsewhere remains to be seen, but his composed showing with The MongolZ has likely kept him firmly on the radar.

The post The MongolZ Officially Say Goodbye to controlez After Stand-In Run appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A Big Year For CS2 Viewership Comes To A Close

As IEM Chengdu wrapped up with FURIA lifting the trophy in front of a packed Chinese crowd, ESL also closed the book on the 2025 season of the Annual Club Incentive program. The system rewards teams based on their contribution to the ESL Pro Tour across the year, including attendance, viewership, and promotional activity. With the final event of the season now behind us, the 2025 standings are locked in, revealing who will take home a share of the massive 2.95 million US dollar pool.

As #IEM Chengdu 2025 wrapped up with @FURIA lifting the trophy, the first year of the Annual Club Incentive also concluded!

The $2,950,000 Annual Club Incentive has now officially come to a close and will be paid out in the first quarter of 2026. pic.twitter.com/CJ6rB3vFkB

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) December 8, 2025

Team Falcons finished the year on top, claiming the highest share of the payout after maintaining strong viewership numbers throughout 2025. Their position at the summit has hardly shifted since IEM Dallas, and they now walk away with 407,422 US dollars. The MongolZ made one of the biggest late-season jumps, climbing from fourth to second after an impressive IEM Chengdu run.

How ESL Calculated The Final Rankings

The final standings were determined using average concurrent viewers from the Group Stage of IEM Chengdu, sourced from Esports Charts. Sixteen teams were ranked by average viewership, with the top twelve earning viewership points according to ESL’s matrix.

IEM Chengdu 2025 Viewership Leaders

To close out the year, the last 108 viewership points were handed out in Chengdu. These results, paired with each team’s event attendance, produced the final weighted totals for the season. Notable highlights include:

• Team Spirit led the Chengdu viewership board with an impressive 209,650 average viewers.
• The MongolZ and Team Falcons followed closely, both earning the maximum 12 points.
• FURIA, fresh off winning the event, secured 147,275 average viewers.
• Teams like FaZe Clan, Virtus.pro, 3DMAX, and Lynn Vision failed to crack the top twelve, earning no viewership points from the event.

IEM Chengdu also marked the final chance for teams to benefit from the Event Multiplier, which rewards consistent participation across ESL events throughout the year.

Final Annual Club Incentive Standings For 2025

Across all ESL tournaments in 2025, 42 clubs were ranked, with the top 16 receiving a cut of the 2.95 million US dollar fund. Falcons, The MongolZ, and FURIA led the pack with high points totals and strong international visibility.

Top 5 Teams

Falcons’ position reflects their massive draw across the year, with stars like m0NESY and NiKo keeping viewers locked in match after match. The MongolZ capitalised on their late-season surge, while FURIA and NAVI rounded out a highly competitive top four.

Further down the table, Astralis and paiN Gaming squeezed into the top 16 at the last minute, knocking out Eternal Fire and GamerLegion.

What Happens Next?

The 2025 season is officially complete, and ESL will distribute the Annual Club Incentive payments in the first quarter of 2026. All standings will reset for the new year, meaning every team starts fresh with equal footing when the 2026 circuit begins.

The next chapter starts soon, with IEM Kraków kicking off on 28 January and running through 8 February 2026. With viewership shaping such a significant part of the payout, teams will be entering the new season ready to capture audience attention from day one.

The post Team Falcons Top ESL Final Annual Club Incentive Standings For 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A fresh name is making waves on FACEIT’s North American ladder, and not without controversy. Nocries, a player who has rocketed up the rankings in just a few months, has been invited to FACEIT’s New York headquarters to compete under strict supervision after weeks of cheating allegations.

Day 1 is behind us at our New York HQ, where we’re hosting @nocriesof after he accepted our invite.

Maidar is playing under supervision on hardware set up by our Anti-Cheat team, a chance to show his game in a fully controlled environment.

Day 2 begins today.

— FACEIT CS2 (@FACEITcs) September 24, 2025

Since the start of 2025, the relatively unknown talent has exploded onto the scene, climbing the ranks at an astonishing pace. Across 491 matches this year, nocries has averaged a 1.51 K/D ratio and a hefty 104.1 average damage per round (ADR), while boosting his ELO by 1,796 points. That climb has pushed him to the very top of the North American FACEIT ladder, where he’s now sitting on more than 4,200 ELO.

With stats like that, it’s no surprise the Counter-Strike community has been buzzing. Speculation around whether nocries was playing fair has been fuelled by countless YouTube breakdowns and reactions, with creators like ohnepixel and FURIOUSSS weighing in. The whispers got loud enough for FACEIT themselves to step in.

On September 24th, FACEIT confirmed that nocries, whose first name is Maidar, had accepted an invitation to their headquarters in New York City. The goal? To play matches on hardware configured by FACEIT’s own anti-cheat team, all under direct supervision. This gave him the chance to prove his skill in a fully controlled environment.

Over the course of four matches, nocries won three and consistently dealt more than 100 damage per round. In his victories, he also notched up more than 20 eliminations. Those numbers align with his FACEIT performance to date, suggesting his results are no fluke.

This isn’t the first time FACEIT has put a spotlight on rising stars facing accusations. Back in 2017, Estonian rifler Robin “ropz” Kool underwent the same process at FACEIT’s London HQ after his dominant FPL performances raised eyebrows. Ropz proved his legitimacy, later signed with MOUZ, and is now a Major champion.

For nocries, the parallels are clear. If FACEIT gives him the all-clear, this could be the launchpad to a professional career. Whether esports organisations come knocking next remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, he’s already cemented himself as one of North America’s most talked-about players.

The post New NA FACEIT Star Nocries Heads to HQ to Prove He’s Not Cheating appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

G2 Esports have confirmed that Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski has officially left the team, ending his stint with the organisation after spending the past month on the bench. The Polish in-game leader is now a free agent.

Thank you for everything, Snax ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RXBeeS4qtm

— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) August 26, 2025

Successes With G2

Snax joined G2 in July 2024 to replace Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen as IGL. His arrival led to immediate results, with G2 lifting trophies at both the BLAST Premier Fall Final and the BLAST Premier World Final.

The team also reached the grand final of PGL Bucharest and the Esports World Cup, cementing themselves as one of the strongest squads during that period. Another highlight came at the Shanghai Major, where G2 reached the semi-finals and Snax delivered his best-rated performance while wearing the G2 jersey.

Snax with his team G2 at the Shanghai Major | Image Credit: TheMAKKU and HLTV.org

G2’s Rebuild

Despite those highs, G2’s form dipped after key roster changes. The departures of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov to Falcons left the team struggling to keep up. Results soon dried up, and G2 made the call to rebuild their lineup.

As part of that shift, Snax was benched and has now officially left the roster, with Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač taking over in-game leading duties.

The post Snax Leaves G2 After a Month on the Bench appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A Big CS2 Transfer Shock

Team Spirit are making waves in the CS2 scene with a blockbuster signing, and it’s one that’s already dividing the community.

Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich is set to join Spirit after the Esports World Cup later this month, taking the spot of long-time member Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia. The change comes despite Spirit kicking off the season in style, winning IEM Cologne and looking every bit like a top-tier contender.

According to harumi, tN1R will join Spirit and replace zont1x on the lineup ‼️ pic.twitter.com/cvFzPxNGF0

— Counter-Strike News (@TheCSTimes) August 12, 2025

From $300k to $1.5 Million

It’s a big-money move too. HEROIC confirmed they’d sold tN1R to an undisclosed team, but it didn’t take long for the dots to be connected. According to CS2 News, Spirit forked out around $1.5 million for the Belarusian star, not a bad profit for HEROIC, who signed him only eight months ago for $300,000.

🔥EXCLUSIVE: Heroic earned $1,500,000 from the transfer of tN1R.

Eight months ago, they bought him for $300,000. pic.twitter.com/i5XzaH0cbT

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 12, 2025

HEROIC’s Director of Esports, Robin Nymann, revealed they’d turned down multiple offers before, but Spirit triggered a buyout clause. In fact, Spirit’s interest wasn’t new.

.@StrikerHLTVorg on tN1R joining Spirit:

“[Spirit] were after him for a couple of months.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/byN3wBpyGx

— HLTV Confirmed (@HLTVconfirmed) August 12, 2025

Spirit’s New-Look Roster

If all goes to plan, Spirit’s new roster will be:

• Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov
• Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
• Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
• Ivan “zweih” Gogin
• Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
• Sergey “hally” Shavaev (coach)

Seven Spirit Players in One Match?

In one of those “you couldn’t script it” moments, tN1R’s first EWC match with HEROIC will actually be against Spirit. Meaning there’ll effectively be seven Spirit players on the server.

tN1R’s first game will be against Spirit 💀

7 Spirit players on the server 😭 pic.twitter.com/JE4bDkCNTe

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 12, 2025

That’s because HEROIC are currently fielding Alkaren, a loanee from Spirit’s academy squad, alongside tN1R.

Fans Split on the Change

While some fans are hyped about Spirit adding another heavy-hitter alongside donk, others are questioning whether zont1x deserved to be cut at all.

zont1x didn’t deserve this 💔 pic.twitter.com/7gqiD0cIO0

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 12, 2025

The move has also reignited the ongoing debate about chopper’s role as in-game leader. Some see his experience as irreplaceable, pointing to his trophy cabinet and ability to guide young stars. Others think the team’s system leans too heavily on donk’s performance, arguing Spirit might never build a true “era” without spreading the impact across all five players.

What’s Next for Spirit?

Regardless of where you stand, one thing’s certain, Spirit aren’t afraid to shake things up. With Cologne already in their pocket and tN1R joining the mix, all eyes will be on whether this roster move pushes them closer to dominance or risks breaking what’s already working.

The post tN1R Replaces zont1x in Huge $1.5M CS2 Move to Team Spirit appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It hasn’t taken long for HEROIC to shake things up again.

Just over a month after welcoming Gleb “gr1ks” Gazin to the squad, the Danish organisation has officially benched the Belarusian rifler, admitting things just didn’t quite click.

pic.twitter.com/dSHl6dbWgO

— gr1ks (@gr1ks24) August 7, 2025

In his place? Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbai, the sharp Kazakh AWPer from Spirit Academy, joining on loan with an option to sign permanently if all goes well.

It’s official — 🇰🇿 alkarenn is the new sniper for HEROIC. The Kazakh player will join the team for the Esports World Cup 2025.

The organizations have agreed on a loan deal, giving HEROIC the option to fully buy out the player later on.

Due to the roster lock, HEROIC Academy’s… pic.twitter.com/7Urrgzwyl8

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 7, 2025

The sudden change comes after mixed results across two events. HEROIC struggled early at FISSURE Playground 1, suffering losses to BIG and BetBoom, and although they found some success at IEM Cologne’s Play-In stage by beating MIBR and Virtus.pro, they were quickly sent packing in the next round.

gr1ks had a rough run overall, putting up a 0.95 rating at FPG and dipping to 0.79 in the second stage of Cologne. There were flashes of promise, he did hit a 1.19 during Stage 1 in Germany, but consistency seemed to be missing.

In a public statement, HEROIC were pretty open about the change. They also gave gr1ks credit for his short time on the team, thanking him for his contribution both in and out of the server.

pic.twitter.com/Nwgm81TSoA

— HEROIC (@heroicgg) August 7, 2025

Enter Alkaren

Alkaren isn’t exactly a household name yet, but he’s been making serious noise in the tier-2 scene. Since joining Spirit Academy in May 2024, the 19-year-old sniper has maintained a 1.10 average rating and picked up wins at both LanDaLan 2025 and its sequel event.

📊 Top rated CS2 Players from the BetBoom LanDaLan 2025 🇷🇺

🇧🇾 xeedo – 1.28
🇷🇺 kyousuke – 1.25
🇰🇿 alkarenn – 1.24
🇷🇺 deko – 1.22
🇷🇺 kashl1d – 1.22
🇷🇺 oz1k – 1.20
🇷🇺 n0rb3r7 – 1.19
🇦🇿 sugaR – 1.13

— tarasjj 💿 📷 (@tarasjj10202) February 13, 2025

Unfortunately, due to BLAST roster lock rules, Alkaren won’t be able to suit up just yet. HEROIC’s academy AWPer Rasmus “Scr0b” Poulsen will stand in for their next match at BLAST Bounty Season 2 – a Round-of-32 clash against Complexity on August 8th.

But all eyes are on the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where Alkaren is expected to make his proper debut in HEROIC colours. It’ll be his biggest stage yet, and the perfect chance to prove he belongs at the top level.

HEROIC’s Current Line-Up:

• Linus “LNZ” Holtäng
• Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
• Linus “nilo” Bergman
• Simon “yxngstxr” Boije
• Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbai (on loan)
• Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo (coach)
• (Bench: xfl0ud, gr1ks)

It’s been a turbulent few months for HEROIC, as they continue to rebuild and search for the perfect formula. Alkaren’s arrival is yet another bold move in their post-spring reset. Whether it brings the firepower and stability they’ve been chasing, we’ll find out soon enough.

One thing’s for sure, all eyes will be on the Kazakh sniper at EWC.

Image Credit: HLTV.org

The post HEROIC Bench gr1ks After Just Over a Month, Bring in Alkaren on Loan from Spirit Academy appeared first on Shane the Gamer.