BC.Game Pulls Off Stunning Signing of CS2 Legend s1mple from Natus Vincere

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports community, BC.Game Esports has officially signed Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev on a permanent transfer from Natus Vincere (NAVI). The three-time HLTV Player of the Year, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in CS history, will assume AWPing responsibilities for the team currently ranked 66th in the global Valve Ranking System (VRS), replacing Tim "nawwk" Jonasson who was benched in June after a six-month stint.

s1mple's nearly nine-year tenure with NAVI, which began in August 2016 following his transfer from Team Liquid, came to an end with this unexpected departure.hltv.org During his time with the organization, he amassed 17 notable trophies, including the 2021 PGL Major in Stockholm, one Intel Grand Slam, and 21 MVP medals. He also appeared in every HLTV Top 20 Player of the Year ranking from 2016 to 2023. NAVI confirmed the sale, marking the close of an era after eight years and ten months since his initial signing.

The Ukrainian star stepped away from NAVI's active roster in October 2023 to address personal matters, including fixing documents and caring for others in his life. In 2024, he had two loan spells with Team Falcons, and in 2025, he temporarily joined FaZe Clan for IEM Dallas and the Austin Major, aiding their playoff runs. Although his NAVI contract was due to expire at year's end, s1mple chose this new challenge instead of riding it out. Speculation arose after a quarter-final loss to The MongolZ at the Major about FaZe potentially pursuing him permanently, but FaZe opted to reinstate Helvijs "broky" Saukants. FaZe's in-game leader, Finn "karrigan" Andersen, revealed during IEM Cologne that discussions with broky were already underway during the Major, indicating no serious push for s1mple due to his remaining NAVI contract months.

BC.Game's updated roster now features Nemanja "nexa" Isaković (Serbia), Luca "pr1metapz" Voigt (Germany), Aleksandar "CacaNito" Kjulukoski (North Macedonia), s1mple (Ukraine), Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad (Norway), with nawwk (Sweden) on the bench. The organization, known for its crypto-based gaming platform, announced the signing via a video on X and YouTube, heralding it as the start of a "new era."

In a post on X, s1mple expressed his motivation: "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. One wise man said, if you want to comeback on tier 1 scene, you need to join tier 3 team. I haven’t done anything for 2 years, it’s time to change that, can’t waste/lose game time sitting on bench." He referenced advice from NAVI coach Andrey "B1ad3" Gorodenskiy about returning to tier 3 to regain form.

The esports world reacted with disbelief and excitement. Esports Insider reported NAVI's parting ways announcement alongside the BC.Game signing. 

On Reddit, fans speculated it could be a season-long deal to keep him match-fit or a major career pivot. X users like JakeSucky exclaimed, "S1mple has officially signed to BC Game Wtf," garnering over 100K views. Ozzny echoed the shock: "OFFICIAL: s1mple joins BC Game ‼️ What the actual f," with 183K views. Sports Illustrated questioned the implications for CS esports, noting s1mple's multiple transfer offers and departure from NAVI. Tips.GG described it as a "shocking twist" ending nearly a decade of dominance with NAVI. EGamersWorld highlighted potential team synergy in the new roster. Esports News UK called it a "shock move" to a VRS #67 team. Instagram posts from cs2twitch and trcsespor confirmed the nine-year NAVI exit and BC.Game addition. Even s1mple's Wikipedia page was updated to reflect the release from NAVI and signing with BC.Game.

Community reactions on X ranged from humorous roster suggestions—like pairing s1mple with gla1ve, magisk, magixx, and jl—to comparisons with former NAVI player GuardiaN's path from NAVI to FaZe to BC.Game. One user lamented, "s1mple saying ‘i just want to play’ and having to go to BC GAME is killing me," while others expressed hope for a comeback. Swedish outlet Esportstudion and Turkish news site Esporyum covered the story in local languages, emphasizing the nine-year NAVI legacy.

This bold transfer raises questions about s1mple's path back to tier-1 dominance and BC.Game's ambitions to climb the ranks. Only upcoming results will reveal the impact of this seismic shift in CS2.