Just days into the new season, CS2 teams are already paying the price for market complacency

In the world of Counter-Strike, you’re often deemed to be only as good as your last few matches. Months of form are often forgotten about in an instant when it comes to crafting a narrative about certain teams or players. We, the community, are guilty of this sin, sure, but it is also seen from those within the game, too.

Just a few days into the 2026 CS2 season, we’ve already seen two high-profile teams pay the price of this attitude at BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026: NAVI and FaZe Clan. Both looked like dead teams walking at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, but it seemed as though deep Playoff runs (Semi-Finals for NAVI, Final for FaZe Clan) had bought them a little more time heading into 2026. A decision both might come to swiftly regret.

FaZe BS can’t make up for roster shortcomings

With FaZe Clan, it felt as though any of karrigan, jcobbb, or broky could make way in 2026. It would not be unfair, given their disappointing 2025, and you could ask a variety of questions about all three players. But a remarkable run to the Grand Final in Budapest made changes difficult. It felt as though things had finally clicked. But was this uptick truly down to improved fundamentals, or was this another example of classic FaZe bulls*** on the big stage? As it turns out, we didn’t have to wait all that long to find out.

On paper, it felt as though the BLAST Bounty format had served up a free win for FaZe Clan on a silver platter. EYEBALLERS had picked into FaZe, setting up a nostalgic JW vs. karrigan matchup. Fun in the moment, but one that only ever should have had one winner. But rather than flourish, FaZe floundered. Gone were the bright lights of Budapest’s MVM Dome, replaced by the dim lights of the players’ bedrooms. Such is the reality of Counter-Strike.

And from the comfort of their own home, FaZe couldn’t find the answers, falling 2:1 in their first match of 2026 and being eliminated in last place from BLAST Bounty. But what is most concerning is that it’s the same significant problems that plagued FaZe throughout 2025 that reared their ugly heads against EYEBALLERS. Despite a stellar opening map, jcobbb struggled to find impact in the two losses. Meanwhile, broky was having a miserable time all around, such is the story of his career of late. There was no room for any of FaZe’s nonsense here – when playing online, you’re on EYEBALLERS’ home turf, and they will expose your flaws if given the chance.

well, that's a bad start to the season. GG eyeballers.

Next event is krakow.

— Russel van Dulken (@Twistzz) January 13, 2026

A swift exit raises immediate questions about FaZe’s complacency in the offseason. While other CS2 teams decided to twist, FaZe felt it was time to stick, believing in the promise of that Major run. Admittedly, it was a tough player market this time around, with prices reportedly through the roof and very few solid options out there, particularly on the AWP, where you imagine FaZe would have been looking for a broky replacement. But you see someone like phzy settling for Astralis, or degster, now a free agent, seemingly set to sit out another season without a team, and you wonder how they felt they didn’t need to change.

Was it a financial issue, or was it pure hubris? It’s hard to say. Still, following their BLAST Bounty disaster, FaZe now have egg on their faces.

NAVI deeply unimpressive against Monte mix

A Semi-Final run at the StarLadder Budapest Major was, like FaZe, a deviation from the norm for NAVI’s recent results. And like FaZe, it looked as though this result may have saved the roster, at least for now, with the hope that they could build on that momentum for quick improvements in 2026.

Their BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026 draw put them against a Monte mix comprised of a “who’s who” of failed international players. Bymas, Rainwaker, afro – as well as talented British duo Gizmy and AZUWU. It’s the type of 5-stack you’d expect to face in a 3.5k FACEIT lobby, rather than the round-of-32 of BLAST Bounty.

NAVI failed to play to their own standards here. Rather, it felt as though they played down to the level of their opponents, making very tough work of the initial Nuke. They won, sure, but how close it was proved to be a sign of things to come. Monte took both Mirage and Dust2, which are supposed to be home maps for NAVI, eliminating them from BLAST Bounty in the first round.

When all was said and done, it was such a typical NAVI game. b1t trying his best to frag out, w0nderful being “just fine,” and Aleksib struggling hard at the bottom of the scoreboard. It was a reminder of the team’s fragility when things aren’t going their way.

There were tons of rumors about this roster during the offseason, and they’d have been justified in making a move. Like FaZe Clan, they chose to stick to their guns. In NAVI’s case, it did feel as though the potential solutions to their woes would require far more financial investment, so it’s at least a little more understandable here. But still, after such a rough showing at BLAST Bounty, is there a case to be made that now is the time to have their “MOUZ -siuhy” moment, an early change that shocks the world early in the season? I think so.