That figure is a huge jump from just a week earlier, when Insider Gaming reported CS:GO was sitting at roughly 18,000 concurrent players. What triggered the sudden spike isn’t entirely clear, but it lines up with a broader pattern of players rediscovering the older shooter now that it’s easy to access again outside of CS2’s shadow.

Why CS:GO Split From Counter-Strike 2 in March

Valve quietly restored CS:GO as its own separate listing on Steam back in March, giving players a way to boot up the classic build without it being folded into or overwritten by Counter-Strike 2. For years after CS2 launched, CS:GO effectively disappeared from the storefront as an active option, leaving longtime fans of the older engine, older movement mechanics and older map pool with nowhere to go.

That separation matters for a scene built on muscle memory and nostalgia. Plenty of Counter-Strike veterans spent close to a decade perfecting spray patterns, smoke lineups and peeking angles on CS:GO’s specific tick-rate and hit registration, and CS2’s overhauled engine changed enough of that formula that some players simply preferred to go back rather than adapt.

The Numbers Behind CS:GO’s 2026 Resurgence

Despite the fresh peak, CS:GO is still a minnow compared to its successor. Insider Gaming notes that Counter-Strike 2’s own all-time peak on Steam sits at a massive 1.86 million concurrent players, meaning CS:GO’s new high is still more than 90 percent lower than what CS2 can pull on its best days.

Where CS:GO is winning, though, is on user sentiment. According to Insider Gaming, the standalone release currently holds a 96 percent positive rating from more than 60,000 Steam reviews, comfortably ahead of Counter-Strike 2’s 85 percent positive rating across a colossal 9.7 million reviews. For a game most people assumed was effectively retired, that’s a striking scorecard.

What This Means for Valve’s Two-Game Strategy

Running two live versions of the same franchise side by side is an unusual move for Valve, a studio not exactly known for chasing every trend. But keeping CS:GO available as a legacy option costs Valve very little while giving a slice of the community exactly what it’s been asking for since CS2 first launched: the original game, untouched, still receiving enough backend support to stay playable and matchmaking-ready.

It also means Valve isn’t forcing a binary choice on players. Esports organisations, content creators and casual squads can dip into CS:GO for old-school lobbies or nostalgia runs while still treating Counter-Strike 2 as the flagship competitive product, the one carrying Major tournaments, sponsorship money and the bulk of the professional scene.

A Reminder of Counter-Strike’s Staying Power

Whatever caused the specific spike in early July, the broader story is that a 2012-era shooter can still climb Steam’s charts in 2026 without a single new content drop driving it. That’s a rare feat even among Valve’s own back catalogue, and it underlines just how deep the well of goodwill runs for the Counter-Strike series among PC players in Australia, New Zealand and beyond who cut their teeth on the original CS:GO maps, skins economy and server culture.

Whether this peak holds or fades back down toward its recent baseline, CS:GO’s return to relevance is a reminder that Valve’s back-catalogue decisions can still move the needle on Steam’s most-played charts, more than a decade after the game first shipped.

The post CS:GO Hits New 2026 Peak of 68,231 Players Months After Steam Return appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Welcome to Aurora, Jimpphat!

Young, talented, and hungry for glory. With him on our side, we are certain that a bright future lies ahead.

And to our opponents: good luck. You’re going to need it. pic.twitter.com/75ofa0zYQm

— Aurora CS2 (@AuroraCS2_GG) July 3, 2026

Jimpphat had been inactive since April, when MOUZ benched him during a shakeup ahead of the IEM Cologne Major, and he formally left the organisation on 2 July. His arrival at Aurora follows a rapid series of departures that has reshaped the Turkish side over the past week.

Jimpphat’s Move From MOUZ To Aurora

Jimpphat got his start in MOUZ NXT in May 2022 before being promoted to the main squad in July 2023, spending over four years across the Hamburg-based organisation’s youth system and senior team. During that time he won a WePlay Academy League trophy in NXT, followed by two ESL Pro Leagues, BB Dacha, and PGL Cluj-Napoca with the main roster.

He was named a Top 20 Player of the Year for the first time in 2024, finishing 17th in the end-of-year ranking, and averaged a 1.10 rating across his time with the MOUZ main squad. His form dipped over the final stretch of his tenure, however, with a 1.04 average across the last 16 months before he was moved to the bench in April, alongside the removal of Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin, as MOUZ failed to reach finals or contend for trophies early in the year.

🐭 1503 Days of Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo 🇫🇮

🏆 WePlay Academy League Season 4
🏆 ESL Pro League 18
🏆 ESL Pro League 19
🏆 BB Dacha Belgrade
🏆 PGL Cluj Napoca 2025

🥉 HLTV Top 20 #17 2024

It was a pleasure to watch you grow into the player, teammate, and young man you have become… pic.twitter.com/K375sT8rVr

— MOUZ (@mousesports) July 2, 2026

At Aurora, Jimpphat will look to rediscover the level that earned him that 2024 ranking under the guidance of a new coaching setup.

ash Returns To Coaching After GamerLegion Burnout

Earlier on Friday, Aurora unveiled ash as their new head coach, handing the 35-year-old Brit his first coaching job since he stepped down from GamerLegion in October 2025. The appointment replaces Sezgin “Fabre” Kalaycı, who departed as part of the same rebuild.

Ashley “ash” Battye is the new coach.

Five Majors and dozens of young talents blossoming under his mentorship.

Welcome aboard! pic.twitter.com/DOFmzVeFmJ

— Aurora CS2 (@AuroraCS2_GG) July 3, 2026

ash put himself on the map in 2023 when he led GamerLegion to the final of the BLAST.tv Paris Major, doing so despite modest resources and a lack of big-name players. GamerLegion’s squad was repeatedly picked apart in the years that followed, regularly losing its best pieces to larger teams, yet ash consistently found a way to build a competitive side from the resources available, earning a formidable reputation across five Majors.

He stepped away from GamerLegion late in 2025 due to burnout, stating “I need a break to clear my head and work on myself.” In early 2026 he set out his intentions for a return, telling HLTV in an interview that he wanted to “play with the best players” and “win trophies.”

Aurora’s Off-Season Rebuild

Jimpphat and ash arrive at the end of a week of upheaval that has stripped Aurora back to its Turkish core. The organisation acquired the Eternal Fire roster led by Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli in April 2025, signing him alongside Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın, Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, and Özgür “woxic” Eker. Caner “soulfly” Kesici joined in December to replace Samet “jottAAA” Köklü.

That line-up brought Turkish CS to new heights, reaching second place at Esports World Cup 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 23, winning PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, and finishing top-four at the IEM Cologne Major. The Bucharest trophy was of particular significance for MAJ3R, ending a long wait for a notable title across CS:GO and CS2. Their run at Cologne ended with a 0-2 exit to FURIA.

The changes began with Fabre’s exit, followed on 2 July by MAJ3R stepping down from the active roster to take a career break. In a statement posted to X, the IGL said the decision to “take a pause in competing” was not easy, adding that “being a dad and a husband is very important to me, and this is where I want to focus more in the future.” Aurora said MAJ3R will remain part of the organisation, with a new role to be announced.

TEŞEKKÜRLER MAJ3R! YAKINDA GÖRÜŞMEK ÜZERE.

Espor sahnesinde geçirdiği yirmi yıl boyunca Engin, bu oyunun en görkemli anlarına da en zorlu dönemlerine de tanıklık etti. Turnuvaların internet kafelerden binlerce insanın doldurduğu dev arenalara dönüşmesini, XANTARES ve woxic gibi… pic.twitter.com/q7QfrxKht3

— Aurora CS2 (@AuroraCS2_GG) July 2, 2026

A day later, Aurora benched soulfly, ending a six-month stint in which he averaged a 1.01 rating while filling supportive roles for a side that stayed competitive in the latter stages of tournaments. “I’m incredibly grateful for the last 6 months,” soulfly said in a post on X. “I’m truly happy to have been part of this journey, and it’s an even greater honor to have been part of a chapter in Turkish CS history.”

Today, soulfly has been moved to the bench at Aurora Gaming.

We’ve been through a lot together: celebrating victories and facing defeats, but we’ve always kept moving forward. Caner played in his first Major as part of our roster and proved himself to be a strong player every… pic.twitter.com/erdWHXlC92

— Aurora CS2 (@AuroraCS2_GG) July 2, 2026

Aurora’s Current Roster

With Jimpphat and ash confirmed, Aurora’s line-up stands as follows, with the team expected to add further international players to complete the five.

Reports suggest the rebuild is not finished, with former Falcons IGL Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski linked to the side along with at least one more addition, though neither has been confirmed. Aurora’s next moves will determine whether the international pivot delivers on the ambition ash and Jimpphat have arrived to chase.

The post Jimpphat Joins Aurora After Leaving MOUZ, ash Named Coach appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The showmatch will be coached by Ray Rizzo, a three-time Pokémon World Champion and well-known figure on the Video Game Championships (VGC) competitive circuit, as reported by Insider Gaming. Rizzo’s involvement is meant to guide the non-Pokémon specialists through the battles, adding a mentorship layer to what is otherwise designed as a light-hearted spectacle rather than a serious competitive tournament.

Who’s Competing in the Champion of Champions Showmatch?

Insider Gaming confirmed four of the eight competitors so far, and their credentials are far removed from traditional esports. Ayna Ziordia Botella of Spain holds the title of Whistling Champion, having reportedly won first place at the Master of Whistling competition in Hollywood back in 2023.

Italy’s Nicola Matarazzo is recognized as the Pizza Acrobatics Champion after placing first at the World Pizza Championship earlier this year for his dough-tossing tricks. Representing the United States is Leandro Silva, a professional MMA fighter who also happens to hold the title of Pillow Fighting Champion after winning the Pillow Fight Championship (PFC).

Perhaps the most unusual accolade belongs to Denis Kwan Hong-Wang of Hong Kong, billed as the Doing Nothing Champion. Insider Gaming notes that Hong-Wang won a competition against roughly 100 other participants by sitting motionless on a yoga mat for 90 minutes without sleeping, making noise, or checking his phone. The remaining four competitors have not yet been revealed by Nintendo.

What’s at Stake for the Winner?

Despite the tongue-in-cheek premise, there is a genuine prize on offer. According to Insider Gaming, the eventual winner of the Champion of Champions showmatch will receive a trip to the 2027 Pokémon World Championships, alongside a charitable donation made in their name to a charity of their choosing.

The format positions the event as a fun, cross-promotional showcase for Pokémon Champions rather than a proving ground for competitive VGC talent, leaning into the novelty of pitting real-world “champions” against each other in Pokémon battles under Rizzo’s guidance.

How and When to Watch

The showmatch is scheduled to take place in London on July 29, though Insider Gaming notes that in-person attendance appears unlikely for fans. Instead, the event will be broadcast live on the official Pokémon Twitch channel and the official Pokémon YouTube channel.

Coverage is set to begin at 2 PM BST, which translates to 7 PM EST for viewers in the United States, as reported by Insider Gaming. No Twitch Drops have been announced for the broadcast at this time.

Read also: Rhythm Heaven Groove Gets Nintendo Tokyo Merch and Nintendo Music Tracks

The post Pokémon Champions Reveals Bizarre ‘Champion of Champions’ Showmatch for July 29 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The disc-drama comes amid rumours that the upcoming PlayStation 6 could carry a price tag around $1,000, according to Insider Gaming’s report. Combined with the loss of physical media, many gamers reportedly feel they are being priced out of a hobby they’ve invested in for years, with no way to discount purchases through used game markets or trade-ins.

Why PC and Esports Could Benefit

Insider Gaming argues that PC gaming stands to gain the most from PlayStation’s shift away from physical media. Unlike consoles, PCs typically have a longer usable lifespan across hardware generations and offer free online play, making the platform increasingly attractive once discs disappear entirely from Sony’s ecosystem.

The outlet also points to Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine as a potential accelerant for this shift. Reportedly priced at around $1,049, roughly in line with rumoured PS6 costs, the Steam Machine is expected to launch well before Sony’s next console, giving PC gaming a head start in capturing players looking for a living-room-friendly alternative.

Insider Gaming notes that building a gaming PC has itself become significantly pricier recently, partly blamed on AI data centers driving up hardware costs. Even so, the site suggests PC’s flexibility, including the freedom to choose any controller, still makes it a more appealing long-term investment than a disc-less console.

Free-to-Play Esports Titles Poised to Gain Players

As players potentially migrate away from expensive consoles, Insider Gaming believes free-to-play competitive games are best positioned to absorb new users. Titles with established esports scenes such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Overwatch, and Valorant were specifically highlighted as likely beneficiaries of any exodus toward PC platforms.

The reasoning follows a familiar pattern in competitive gaming: many current esports professionals reportedly got their start on PC-based multiplayer games at a young age, often introduced by family members. If a new generation grows up primarily on PC rather than consoles or mobile devices, Insider Gaming suggests this could seed a fresh wave of skilled players entering competitive scenes.

Esports Industry Looking for a Turnaround

The timing matters because esports has faced a rocky stretch in recent years, with Insider Gaming pointing to heavy investment followed by significant crashes and budget cuts across the industry. Any influx of new PC players driven by PlayStation’s disc changes could offer a much-needed boost to a sector still finding its footing.

There are also signs of institutional support for esports growth elsewhere. According to Insider Gaming, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed ambitions to establish London as a global esports hub, making comments to that effect at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Tokyo alongside representatives from Fnatic and Sony.

Whether this translates into a genuine industry rebound remains to be seen, but Insider Gaming frames Sony’s disc decision as an unintentional gift to the PC and esports ecosystem. As traditional console ownership becomes costlier and less flexible, competitive PC gaming may simply become the more sensible entry point for the next wave of players.

Read also: French Presidential Candidate Slams GTA 6, PS5’s Disc-Free Future Over Gamer Rights

The post Sony’s Disc-Free PlayStation Shift Could Fuel a PC Gaming and Esports Boom appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

We’re BACK. 🇧🇷

Today we’re happy to announce that the Intel® Extreme Masters will return to the Brasil in 2027!

The #IEM event in Brasil will be a part of the more than $11,450,000 allocated for teams and players in the 2027 edition of #ESLProTour! pic.twitter.com/8N4Y9s8QQZ

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) July 1, 2026

As of 2 July 2026, the city remains unconfirmed, but expectations point to a return to Rio de Janeiro, which hosted the IEM Rio Major in 2022 and standalone IEM Rio events in 2023, 2024, and 2026.

IEM Brazil 2027 Dates and Location

The tournament runs from 3 to 9 May 2027, with teams arriving on 1 May, a media day on 2 May, and departures on 10 May. ESL has confirmed the event will take place in Brazil but has not named the host city.

Rio de Janeiro is the widely expected venue given its established history with the circuit. The city operates a dedicated Games and Esports department led by Chandy Teixeira, positioning major international tournaments as a central part of its regional economic and cultural development strategy.

Prize Pool and Club Reward Breakdown

The $1,000,000 total is split into $300,000 in direct team prize money and a $700,000 Club Reward matrix. The winners take $120,000 in prize money plus a $180,000 Club Reward, with payouts scaling down through the placements.

The event forms part of the more than $11,450,000 allocated for teams and players across the 2027 ESL Pro Tour. The 2027 Annual Club Incentive will factor combined average concurrent viewership across the entire tournament, including the playoffs, into its points distribution.

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

Format and Invite System

The tournament opens with a group stage of 16 teams split into two groups of eight, each playing double elimination in a best-of-three format. Four teams from each group advance to an eight-team arena playoff stage. The playoffs run across three days: four quarter-finals on Friday, two semi-finals on Saturday, and a third-place decider ahead of the Grand Final on Sunday.

Of the 16 spots, 11 will be filled through global VRS invites, with one invite each going to the North American and South American VRS. The remaining three teams will come from qualifiers: two global and one Americas. The Americas qualifier will run on South American servers but use the Americas VRS list, while the global qualifier will run on European servers using the global VRS list. Regional VRS invites are allocated first, followed by global invites.

Invitations will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of February 2027, with seeding drawn from the April 2027 publication. Any team or player carrying an active ban from ESL, FACEIT, or the Esports Integrity Commission will be ineligible regardless of their VRS placement.

ESL’s 2027 Calendar So Far

IEM Brazil is the fourth disclosed location on the 2027 ESL Pro Tour calendar for Counter-Strike. The confirmed schedule now runs IEM Krakow from 27 January to 7 February, ESL Pro League Season 25 from 6 to 14 March, IEM USA from 5 to 11 April, and IEM Brazil from 3 to 9 May. Three further ESL events sit later in the year, in August, September and October to November, with details yet to be disclosed.

The post IEM Brazil 2027 Confirmed for May 3-9 With $1,000,000 Prize Pool appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

WE’RE BACK IN COUNTER STRIKE!

📰 https://t.co/p8hWYlNGul pic.twitter.com/biPMXU3ZMU

— Luminosity Gaming (@Luminosity) July 1, 2026

Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras, Aurelien “afro” Drapier, Oscar “AZUWU” Bell, and Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov make the jump from Monte, with lux drafted in as the fifth. The one Monte name not making the move is captain Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen, who is expected to join 100 Thieves.

Luminosity’s New CS2 Roster

The five-man lineup pairs the bulk of the Monte project with a new leader. lux, who previously captained Legacy, replaces Gizmy at the in-game lead position, marking his first time running an English-speaking roster.

Bymas, afro, and AZUWU joined on free transfers after their Monte contracts expired, while Rainwaker had to be bought out of his deal. Alexander “kakafu” Szymanczyk stays on with the team, though Luminosity have not named a permanent coach.

How the Monte Core Deal Came Together

Monte’s management tried to negotiate contract extensions with the trio before the IEM Cologne Major, but after the team was eliminated the players told the organisation they intended to move on. Gizmy confirmed the split in a post on X, saying the core told him they were leaving for Luminosity and had signed contracts before the Major. “Pretty sad ending for a team I’ve led since the beginning, but that’s how it goes sometimes,” he wrote.

Because the deal brings Monte’s competitive points with it, Luminosity enter the Valve Regional Standings already inside the top 20 despite being a brand-new lineup. A Major-winning organisation in 2016 with Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo and company, the Canadian club now competes as a European combine.

Steve Maida’s Buyback and Luminosity’s Return

Founder Steve Maida reacquired the Luminosity brand from Vertiqal Studios for CAD $300,000, roughly $212,000, in January 2026. He had originally sold the company to Aquilini GameCo Inc. in a 2019 deal worth CAD 21.5 million, over $16 million at the time.

Maida framed the return as a long-held goal, saying he always wanted to buy the brand back and put it “where it all started, Counter-Strike.” On the timing of the roster move, he pointed to the chance to sign the group as free agents: “We believe fully in this team and their success at Cologne proved we bet right.”

Luminosity’s Debut at XSE Pro League

Luminosity’s new roster will make its competitive debut at XSE Pro League in Guangzhou, China. The lineup dropped its opening best-of-one against Nemesis on Inferno, a competitive showing despite the loss, and moves into the 0-1 pool as its tournament run continues.

The post Luminosity Return to CS2 With Monte Core and Brazilian IGL lux appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The tribute arrived inside the post-Major update that released the IEM Cologne 2026 champion stickers for Falcons, which went live on 1 July 2026. It marks the first time a specific play at a Major has been commemorated in-game since 2017.

The Magic: Secret Sauce Jar in Kitchen on Mirage

The tribute takes the form of a tomato sauce jar placed in Kitchen on Mirage, labelled “Magic: Secret Sauce” with “4X” printed beneath it, a direct nod to magixx’s 1v4 in the quarter-final.

The jar sits in the site line through Kitchen, where a portion of the angle is now blocked by it.

Wanted it to be a surprise! 🍅🍅🍅🍅 https://t.co/lcSpIIbiu7 pic.twitter.com/CSUhvktaeg

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) July 1, 2026

First In-Game Tribute to a Major Play Since 2017

The reference to magixx’s clutch is the first in-game tribute to a specific play at a Major since Mihail “Dosia” Stolyarov’s grenade in 2017, with the exception of Dominik “GruBy” Swiderski and Damian “Furlan” Kislowski’s Danger Zone win in 2019. While the Mirage jar is not a graffiti, it is the closest the game has come to one for a single play.

Community Split on the Jar Over a Graffiti

The tribute drew a divided response from players, many of whom had expected magixx’s clutch to earn an in-game graffiti rather than a map object. Part of the community argued the jar is a better format than a graffiti, on the grounds that it commemorates a moment without altering the map’s visual identity the way a graffiti would, and that it functions like an easter egg rewarding players who know the context. Others felt the play was over-rewarded, comparing it unfavourably to older highlights that received graffitis.

Cologne Major Champion Stickers Released for Falcons

The update itself was the routine post-Major release, built around the IEM Cologne 2026 champion stickers for Falcons, who won the Major. The set includes the IEM Cologne 2026 Champions Autograph stickers, featuring Paper, Holo, Foil, and Gold autographs from the Falcons roster, alongside the IEM Cologne 2026 Highlight Charms, which cover 10 highlights for each of the six stages of the tournament plus the Falcons trophy-lifting moment. As Major champions, Falcons are entitled to 2.85 percent of the revenue from the Major shop and viewer passes, on top of proceeds from the champion sticker sales. Champion stickers have been released after every Major since PGL Major Stockholm.

The post magixx 1v4 Clutch Immortalised on Mirage in Latest Counter-Strike 2 Update appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

s1mple, for one, has already hit back at the decision.

Why the Bans Were Issued

The federation approved an updated Disciplinary Liability Policy in Esports on 8 June 2026 before releasing the document and a list of restricted players. Under it, s1mple received a 12-month suspension until 30 June 2027 for playing official matches on the same team as Russian player Denis “electroNic” Sharipov while representing BC.Game, a case the federation classified as an ethical violation, its category for knowingly competing alongside representatives of Russia. zont1x was banned on the same terms for playing for Team Spirit, whose roster includes Russian players. The policy treats competing alongside Russian players as a violation only when it is a conscious choice, and specifically does not penalise playing against Russian representatives in tournaments where such matchups are unavoidable.

s1mple was scathing in response. “Double standards for other players,” he wrote on X. “The people who made this decision understand nothing about esport and have done nothing for it, so their opinion is worthless.”

Double standards for other players 😊 The people who made this decision understand nothing about esport and have done nothing for it, so their opinion is worthless 🙂‍↔️

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) June 26, 2026

Others Named on the List

Several other players received one-year restrictions. Danylo “s1zzi” Vinnyk was suspended until 30 June 2027 over involvement with Spirit Academy or similar associations. Some cases carried multiple violations: Bogdan “bodyaN” Goncharov was cited for playing with Russian teammates as well as match-fixing and cheating, while Danyyl “Sdaim” Tupov was listed for anti-Ukrainian statements. The policy also allows sanctions to be renewed or extended for repeat offences.

Limited Real-World Impact

The bans apply only to competitions the UESF organises, partners on, or supports, and restricted players lose federation support and the right to represent Ukraine in national team events. Crucially, they do not affect major international tournaments run by the likes of ESL FACEIT Group, BLAST, or PGL, nor do they impact existing contracts with organisations such as BC.Game or Team Spirit. As a result, the practical effect on top professionals is expected to be limited, hitting domestic competition and national team eligibility rather than their day-to-day careers.

The post s1mple and zont1x Banned by Ukrainian Esports Federation Over Russian Teammates appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

New AWPer approaching ❗️

Welcome @r1nkle1 to G2. pic.twitter.com/WcRDto5eg2

— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) June 25, 2026

The signing is a surprise one. r1nkle arrives at G2 having just been dropped from the primary AWP role at Ninjas in Pyjamas after a poor start to the year, joining a roster that reached a Major quarter-final without him.

G2 Bench SunPayus After One Year

SunPayus joined G2 in July 2025 and averaged a 1.05 rating across his tenure, helping the organisation claim the BLAST Open London 2025 Finals title. His benching came shortly after G2’s Cologne Major run ended against Spirit in the quarter-finals, closing out a one-year spell with the team.

Today, we’re moving SunPayus to the bench

Thank you for all the plays and great vibes ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ja80NyMDJE

— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) June 25, 2026

G2 marked the move on X, writing that they were moving SunPayus to the bench and thanking him “for all the plays and great vibes”. The Spaniard is now benched rather than released, leaving his next destination unconfirmed.

Who Is r1nkle, G2’s New AWPer

r1nkle was signed by Ninjas in Pyjamas from B8 in April 2024 to replace compatriot Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov, and showed flashes of potential across his first 18 months with the Swedish organisation. A poor run of form at the start of 2026 changed that, as he averaged a 1.02 rating against top-50 opposition and the side failed to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major. Ninjas in Pyjamas responded by signing Martin “stavn” Lund, who transitioned into the primary AWP role, pushing r1nkle out.

At G2 he steps straight into the AWP position vacated by SunPayus. Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač and head coach Eetu “sAw” Saha are the ones G2 are banking on to get more out of r1nkle and develop him into a difference-maker, framing the signing as a project rather than a finished upgrade.

Why G2 Did Not Promote kl1m

The vacancy raised the question of an internal promotion, but G2 are not considering moving academy AWPer Klimentii “kl1m” Krivosheev to the main team, despite the Russian being regarded as one of the most promising talents in the scene. kl1m has spent the last ten months on loan at MIBR, who remain hopeful of reaching a transfer agreement with G2.

G2’s Updated Counter-Strike 2 Roster

When r1nkle Makes His G2 Debut

r1nkle will make his first appearance for G2 at BLAST Bounty Season 2, which begins on 21 July. The team then heads to the $2 million Esports World Cup in Paris in August, where the new-look five will get its first major test together.

The post G2 Sign r1nkle From NIP, Bench SunPayus appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

La pièce manquante 🧩@Kursycs2 rejoint officiellement notre équipe Counter-Strike en tant que rifle.

Bienvenue Jeremy. #DevilNeverDies pic.twitter.com/7fkAMj7jI3

— Team 3DMAX (@3DMAXGaming) June 24, 2026

His first appearance in a 3DMAX jersey is set for 1 July 2026 at XSE Pro League 2026, where the squad faces Ninjas in Pyjamas in the opening round.

Kursy Returns To A Rifle Role After Nine Months Out

Kursy moves into 3DMAX as a rifler rather than the AWP position he held at GamerLegion. Bryan “Maka” Canda remains the team’s primary sniper, so Kursy returns to the rifle role he occupied earlier in his career.

His GamerLegion tenure ended on a low note. He averaged a 0.95 rating across the stint before being benched, then spent nine months inactive while waiting for another opportunity. The 3DMAX move is his first official roster spot since that exit.

3DMAX framed the addition with a short social post, describing Kursy as “the missing piece” and confirming he joins the Counter-Strike team as a rifler.

3DMAX’s Updated Counter-Strike Roster

Ex3rcice, 26, was moved to the bench earlier on Wednesday as part of the changes heading into the second half of the 2026 season. The organisation has not given a reason for the benching or further detail on his status, and no integration timeline or additional roster moves were indicated alongside the announcement.

The active French lineup now reads:

Community Reaction To The Signing

The announcement drew a largely positive response from the Counter-Strike community. French fans welcomed Kursy back to the server, with messages including “Welcome #DevilNeverDies” and “Bonne chance Jeremy”, while some supporters hoped the change could help 3DMAX regain momentum after an inconsistent season. A few jokingly compared him to ZywOo, calling him the “French ZywOo from Wish”.

Others were less convinced. Some questioned replacing Ex3rcice, framing the move as a downgrade, and others asked why the org had picked a player coming off such a long layoff. With Maka staying on as the team’s AWPer, Kursy’s switch back from sniper to rifler stands out as one of the bigger storylines to watch.

What Comes Next For 3DMAX

For 3DMAX, the signing is another attempt to firm up a roster that struggled to break into Europe’s top tier through the first half of 2026. For Kursy, it is a restart after months away from official play. Whether the role change works gets its first test on 1 July, when the French side opens its XSE Pro League 2026 campaign against Ninjas in Pyjamas.

The post Kursy Joins 3DMAX As Rifler, Replacing Benched Ex3rcice Ahead Of XSE Pro League appeared first on Shane the Gamer.