The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 has concluded, and rostermania is officially underway. It’s set to be a very busy period for CS2 roster changes, with teams switching up their lineups during the player break in order to compete over the next six months. Given the massive underperformance from just about everyone not named Vitality, we’ll likely see many of the best CS2 teams taking part in this transfer shuffle.
Not all CS2 roster changes are created equal – here are the biggest ones you need to be aware of right now.
In Magisk, Falcons are losing a four-time CS:GO Major winner. However, there can be no doubt that it’s a necessary change at this point, and they’re replacing him with kyousuke, the most hyped Counter-Strike youngster in the world right now. That’s the kind of deal that has to be done if it’s on the table, and all eyes will now be on kyousuke as he transitions to Tier 1. CS2 roster changes rarely get bigger than this.
Falcons are now:
After a disappointing first half of 2025, the wheels are already in motion for G2 to improve for the rest of the year. SunPayus and sAw come in as a double act from HEROIC, with MATYS rounding things out from Fnatic. For the first time, huNter- has taken up the IGL mantle, a fascinating CS2 roster change that has big risks and potential big rewards. Even if more changes are needed down the line, sAw is something of a roster building expert.
G2 will be:
After a disappointing 2025 for the team, something had to give for NAVI. Rather than unceremoniously benching one of their CS2 Major winners, jL has decided to take a break from competitive play, allowing the organization to avoid taking the difficult decision. In his stead, makazze has been promoted from NAVI Junior, his own great form rewarded with the chance to prove himself in Tier 1. If it works, it’s going to be one of the most exciting CS2 roster changes of the year.
NAVI are now:
After a rough 2025, Team Spirit are making a break for the top tier again. After six years on the active lineup, magixx is out, replaced by 17-year-old talent zweih from Nemiga. Realistically, donk deserves to be on a winning team, and this gives Team Spirit the best chance of doing so. This CS2 roster change is a win.
Team Spirit are now:
After over a year inactive, Perfecto is officially back, this time with Virtus.pro. The gamble on FL4MUS hasn’t paid off for the team, so it’s time to go back to someone tried and tested, with one of the best anchors to ever play the game. Can he regain his NAVI form alongside old teammate electroNic? I have no idea, but I’m excited to find out how these CS2 roster changes are going to pan out.
Virtus.pro are now:
While not the biggest or most recent CS2 roster changes, these are other notable moves made around the scene of late.
Gigachad is back, and he’s here to help Astralis get back on their feet. After a staggering Grand Final run as a trial at PGL Astana 2025, the Danes have seen enough to give HooXi a permanent contract. Astralis are a name synonymous with Counter-Strike greatness, and it’s his job to take them back to the summit once again.
Astralis are now:
I can hardly believe it – FlyQuest have finally done the most obvious CS2 roster change of all time by bringing in jks. He’s Australia’s greatest-ever export in CS, so it’s only right that he’s found his home on the best Australian roster right now. I just didn’t think they’d spend the money required, but clearly, FlyQuest would like to start winning some games at long last. They haven’t announced who he will be replacing yet, but most assume it to be Liazz.
FlyQuest are now:
This one has been coming. Sadly, sl3nd hasn’t lived up to the hype for GamerLegion, in a rare miss for coach ash. In his stead, GamerLegion have picked up Kursy, a French AWPer getting his biggest chance to show his quality yet. This CS2 roster move is another risk, but that’s kind of GamerLegion’s MO.
GamerLegion are now:
Poor HEROIC. Every time they build a competitive roster, it gets torn away from them piece by piece. With their announcement that SunPayus and sAw are off to G2 after the Major, they’ll have to go back to the drawing board and find themselves an AWPer and coach. Not ideal. The shock benching of xfl0ud (despite solid stats) is another surprising CS2 roster move. At least they’ve finally been able to bring nilo into the lineup, also picking up gr1ks as their young new AWPer.
HEROIC are now:
Among all the typical madness of rostermania during this period of CS2 roster moves, Imperial‘s decision to bench chayJESUS just five months after acquiring him from Fluxo will likely go under the radar. However, moving decenty to the bench feels like a bit of a rogue choice. Still, chelo and Shr are fine replacements who will keep the team ticking along.
Imperial are now:
After chasing Lucaozy for months prior to acquiring him, MIBR were left disappointed with his form throughout 2025. He hasn’t lived up to the hype at all, and eventually placed himself on the bench after a disappointing Major campaign. What a waste. However, I can’t say I know all too much about nicks, either, so let’s see if this move is a real upgrade or one that doesn’t really move the needle.
It’s hard to really place M80, because you feel like they’re pretty good at times, then in other moments, you feel like you could replace the entire roster. Dropping reck after nearly two years might not be the drastic CS2 roster move they wanted to take, but HexT is a solid replacement right now.
M80 are now:
Something has happened at NRG, and I’m not sure it’s for the better. HexT has been sold to M80, replaced by NA grinder nosraC. It’s a fun chance for him at a higher level, but dropping oSee for XotiC is puzzling. oSee probably had to go at this point, but XotiC has plenty of LAN dodging allegations that I’m surprised hasn’t kept the top teams away. Let’s see how these CS2 roster changes pan out.
NRG are now:
Of all the CS2 roster changes of late, this might be the one I’m most unsure of. Something had to change over at Wildcard, clearly, but I’m not sure kicking your best player in phzy and the IGL who got you to your first two Majors in stanislaw is the answer. I couldn’t even tell you who the IGL is on this lineup, to be honest.
Wildcard are now:
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