What to expect from G2 CS2 for the rest of 2025

G2’s new CS2 lineup brings in some fresh faces, and while it’s a new chapter for the team, it’s one that might take 2024 fans, who grew accustomed to watching NiKo and m0NESY, some time to get used to. But as is the case with any rebuild, there are both upsides and downsides contingent on the changes.

This roster takes me back to 2020, when G2 signed the nexa and huNter- duo from CR4ZY, a pair still on the rise but already brimming with potential. At that time, G2 deviated from their usual path of going for a French lineup.  That lineup had its moments, in my view. Yet despite the parallels to the latest G2 CS2 roster, one significant change stands out, which is huNter-’s role as an IGL.

Is making huNter- IGL the right decision?

G2’s leadership struggles have been a persistent theme, a problem they’ve repeatedly patched over rather than truly solved. While huNter- has occasionally taken the reins before, captaining G2 is no small task. It demands more than just experience, and history has made it pretty clear why. The problem is that the pressure always seems to fall squarely on the IGL. When people talk about FaZe, they mention star-player dynamics. With Spirit, it’s the support structure. But with G2, it always comes back to the IGL, whether he’s the right fit or not.

Since nexa, we’ve seen NiKo step up, then amanek. Aleksib was brought in, struggled with G2, but later went on to lift a Major trophy with NAVI. HooXi followed and did relatively well, but he always felt like he was walking a tightrope. Then came Snax, an experiment that I feel overstayed its welcome.

So yes, being an IGL in G2 isn’t just about calling the team right, it’s also about withstanding the pressure that comes with the job. And that’s exactly where my doubts about huNter- start to grow. It reminds me of electroNic stepping in as IGL to compensate for slipping form, and I’ve never been a fan of that approach. Sure, huNter- could grow into an apEX-type figure, but I’m not convinced he has a ZywOo-level player to carry the weight.

That said, the addition of sAw is a stroke of brilliance, a move so well thought out that it almost feels out of character for G2’s management. It gives the huNter- IGL experiment a layer of credibility and maybe even hope. Still, I’ll remain a skeptic for now, because I’ve always believed in signing a real IGL, even at the cost of some firepower, rather than trying to force a rifler into the role just to keep the damage numbers up.

Where does MATYS fit into the new G2 CS2 roster?

Now, onto the new kid on the block, MATYS, 23 years old, who began his pro journey in 2021 with BRUTE and steadily worked his way up, landing at fnatic by late 2023. He played with the orange banner for 18 months, but still feels fairly new to Tier-1, with only a dozen or so LANs under his belt.

And when you look at his showings at bigger events, the stats don’t exactly leap off the page:

• 1.04 at YaLLa Compass 2024

• 0.86 at ESL Pro League Season 19

• 1.02 at ESL Pro League Season 20

When filtered against top-30 opposition, his rating dips to 1.02. Not terrible, but not groundbreaking either. I’ve never been one to rely too heavily on stats, but stepping into G2’s system will take more than decent numbers. At fnatic, he had more defined roles. But here, he’s going to be pushed into different CT-side duties. On the T-side, however, he brings more aggression than Snax, which might suit G2 well, especially with SunPayus expected to be a more reserved AWPer compared to m0NESY.

The mantle falls on malbsMd

After m0NESY’s departure, G2 turned to malbsMd to pick up the slack and take charge in the star roles. His recent form, however, shows a slight dip.

• 1.24 at PGL Astana 2025

• 1.12 at IEM Dallas 2025

• 1.07 at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

But saying he’s out of form would be a reach. Since joining G2, malbs has had a few quiet events, but has largely stayed consistent around the 1.10+ mark, and occasionally crossed 1.20. With improved CT-side roles, you’d expect that number to climb. But the comparison isn’t fair, losing m0NESY, a hyper-aggressive AWPer, meant malbs had more room to breathe. Without him, that space shrank.

In fact, during the hades G2 lineup, malbs’ opening duel attempts increased by around 10%. Given that, his current output is actually impressive. With MATYS joining, there’s a chance we’ll see malbs return to his peak form. If this lineup is going to succeed, he’ll absolutely need to be the centerpiece, especially on T-side.

And on the defensive side, HeavyGod deserves recognition. His anchoring has been solid, dependable, maybe even underappreciated. Paired with SunPayus, another reserved and calculated AWPer, there’s real potential for balance when teamed up with the rifler core of malbs and HeavyGod. If MATYS can hold his ground, and huNter- doesn’t crumble under the pressure, this G2 lineup has what it takes to become a serious top-5 contender.