HEROIC Bench yxngstxr as Roster Overhaul Continues Ahead of 2026 Season

HEROIC have officially benched Simon "yxngstxr" Boije, continuing a wide-scale roster rebuild following an inconsistent 2025 campaign in Counter-Strike 2.

The move was confirmed via HEROIC’s official communication channels and later reported by HLTV, marking the second benching of the off-season as the organization looks to “finalize next season’s roster.”

HEROIC Continue CS2 Roster Changes After Disappointing 2025

yxngstxr joined HEROIC at the start of 2025 as part of a major rebuild that brought in several former Sangal players. Despite moments of promise and playoff appearances at international events, the lineup struggled to establish long-term consistency.

In a public statement shared by the organization, HEROIC wrote:

“To finalize next season’s roster we’ve decided to bench @yxngstxr10… Best of luck to our tall Vietnamese king.”

The decision signals that HEROIC are not making minor adjustments, but rather restructuring the core of the team.

Leadership Reset: Chr1zN Era Begins

The benching of yxngstxr follows HEROIC’s earlier decision to move Linus "LNZ" Holtäng to the bench and appoint Christoffer "Chr1zN" Storgaard as the new in-game leader.

Chr1zN, previously known for his structured calling and development under experienced coaches, has openly discussed his growth as a leader and the responsibility of building systems from the ground up — a key reason HEROIC appear committed to reshaping the roster around him.

yxngstxr on HEROIC’s Struggles: “We’re Trying to Wing It”

Shortly before being benched, yxngstxr spoke to HLTV during the CS Asia Championships, offering rare insight into the internal challenges the team faced throughout the year:

“Now we’re trying to wing it and play as good as possible.”

He also highlighted the importance of reaching playoffs at a major event, calling it a personal milestone — a reminder that individual development did occur even as the team searched for stability.

Statistically, yxngstxr maintained a career Rating 2.0 of around 1.01, underlining that the move was likely driven by direction and structure, not raw firepower alone.

Pattern of Change: HEROIC’s Ongoing Rebuild

The benching of yxngstxr continues a pattern that defined HEROIC’s 2025 season. Earlier in the year, Yasin "xfl0ud" Koç was also removed from the active lineup, publicly stating that he believed he had played an important role in the team’s success.

With multiple starters rotated out and a new IGL installed, HEROIC’s strategy is clear:
reset the system first, then finalize the pieces.

What’s Next for HEROIC?

As of now, HEROIC have not announced yxngstxr’s replacement or confirmed their final starting five for 2026. However, with two off-season benchings and leadership firmly handed to Chr1zN, further roster announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

For yxngstxr, the benching opens the door to new opportunities as organizations prepare for the next competitive cycle.