S1mple leaves NAVI to join BC.Game Esports

After nine years with NAVI, including almost two years on the bench, s1mple will now be playing under a new banner for BC.Game.

In one of the most shocking roster moves in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) history, Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has finally parted ways with Natus Vincere (NAVI) to join BC.Game Esports. The consensus Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) will now attempt to rise to the top of CS2 as part of a Tier 3 team in BC.Game.

S1mple had been with NAVI since 2016, leading the team to 13 S-Tier tournament victories in seven years–including a Major championship in the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 and an Intel Grand Slam that same year–and becoming arguably the greatest player in the history of CS:GO.

In October 2023, s1mple stepped down from NAVI's active roster and began a long period of inactivity as the scene switched to CS2. He had two unsuccessful stints with Team Falcons in 2024, before being loaned to FaZe Clan to replace Helvijs “broky” Saukants in May this year in what was seen as a ‘Hail Mary’ move.

While s1mple's debut tournament with FaZe at the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas 2025 ended with a disappointing Group Stage exit, he and the team were able to make a lot of noise in the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. S1mple and FaZe Clan survived Stages 2 and 3 of the Major to make it to the Playoffs, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual grand finalists The MongolZ.

Due to FaZe's solid showing in the Austin Major, many thought s1mple would continue with the team. However, FaZe were reportedly unable to secure a full transfer for s1mple as they were unable to meet the buyout price set by NAVI. Instead, FaZe reinstated broky while s1mple was once again left without a team.

NAVI said in a press release that they “received several transfer offers” for s1mple following the Austin Major, all of which were submitted to the player for his consideration.

“We are incredibly grateful to Oleksandr for the journey we traveled together, for the numerous trophies, unforgettable emotions and highlights! We say goodbye for now, but we’ll be waiting to see you back on the server. GOAT!” said NAVI.

In a post on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account, s1mple commented on his exit from NAVI by saying, “Dobby is free,” referencing a quote from the character Dobby from the Harry Potter book series, after he was freed from servitude.

“Dobby is free. I just want to play, BC.Game gave me the chance, and they’re serious about building a top-tier team. Let’s see what moves we make and how I can impact things. Maybe some things will change, maybe not–only results will show,” said s1mple.

“One wise man said–if you want to come back to the tier 1 scene–you need to join tier 3 team. I haven’t done anything for two years, it’s time to change that, can’t waste or lose game time sitting on the bench.”

S1mple will be taking over as BC.Game's AWPer from TIm “nawwk” Jonasson, who was benched in late June. The rest of the team's roster consists of Nemanja “nexa” Isaković, Luca “pr1metapz” Voigt, and Aleksandar “CacaNito” Kjulukoski. BC.Game is expected to make more roster moves in the coming months to improve the team around their new superstar.