FaZe add s1mple for IEM Dallas, Austin Major

Counter-Strike legend Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev will make yet another return in CS2, this time with FaZe Clan following the benching of Helvijs "broky" Saukants earlier today.

Given the cutoff for the BLAST Austin Major roster lock was today, an announcement from FaZe was undoubtedly imminent. In the end they've gone with the 27-year-old Ukrainian on loan who will have little time to prepare before IEM Dallas and the Austin Major.

FaZe announced s1mple had joined the squad early on May 5 via X/Twitter. "The CSGOAT is back and he's on our side now," the post read. It added that s1mple will be standing in on loan from Natus Vincere for the IEM Dallas and Austin Major events.

s1mple, outside of a showmatch in January, was last seen representing Falcons toward the end of 2024 at ESL Challenger Katowice and the Shanghai Major RMR. Both events were flops for the Falcons squad with s1mple looking far from his best, but we got a few shining moments from the Ukrainian superstar.

It's a huge risk for FaZe, but a change was necessary after what has been a poor 2025 campaign. The third-place finish at a weak PGL Bucharest was the only bright spot, with FaZe missing the playoffs at IEM Melbourne, BLAST Open Spring, and IEM Katowice.

Regardless of broky's underperformance in 2025, s1mple's got big shoes to step into, and given Falcons' form in late 2024 he likely isn't a be-all, end-all fix to FaZe's problems which extend out of the server too.

FaZe Clan's roster for IEM Dallas and the Austin Major is as follows:

For more CS2 news stay tuned to esports.gg.