HLTV Editor Says Up to Half of CS2’s Top-15 Teams Are Preparing Roster Changes After the Budapest Major 2025

The Budapest Major 2025 is not only deciding the next CS2 champion—according to HLTV.org editor-in-chief Milan “Striker” Švejda, it’s also about to ignite one of the biggest roster shuffles of the year.

On the latest episode of HLTV Confirmed, Striker revealed that at least five teams within the current HLTV World Ranking top 15 are already preparing roster changes for the post-Major offseason.

“At least five of the top 15-ranked teams are already looking to make potential changes after the Major,” Striker said, adding that the real number could end up being closer to half of the top 15.

This comment has immediately fueled discussions about which elite squads will overhaul their rosters heading into 2026.

Current HLTV Top-15 Teams (Before Budapest Major Playoffs)

According to HLTV’s December 2025 ranking, the top 15 teams are:

1. FURIA

2. Team Vitality

3. Team Falcons

4. MOUZ

5. The Mongolz

6. Team Spirit

7. Natus Vincere

8. Aurora

9. G2 Esports

10. paiN Gaming

11. Astralis

12. FaZe Clan

13. 3DMAX

14. Team Liquid

15. Legacy

Striker’s estimate indicates that 5–8 of these lineups could undergo changes in the coming weeks.

 Confirmed Changes: paiN Gaming Bench dgt and dav1deuS

The first official top-15 move has already happened.

paiN Gaming confirmed that dgt and dav1deuS were benched following a disappointing season and a failed Budapest Major run.
This guarantees that the #10 team in the world is entering the offseason with a partial rebuild.

Astralis Expected to Lose dev1ce to 100 Thieves

One of the biggest storylines involves Astralis (#11) and Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz.

HLTV reports that dev1ce is in advanced talks to join 100 Thieves as their new AWPer. If finalized, it will mark dev1ce’s second departure from Astralis—and another unavoidable roster overhaul.

After Astralis’ elimination in Budapest, dev1ce wrote:

“Absolutely devastated… Sometimes you have to be broken to grow back stronger.”

This only intensified speculation about the future of the Danish roster.

Other Top-15 Teams Under Pressure

Analysts from HLTV and Dust2 media identified several teams most likely to follow:

Team Liquid (#14)

An extremely poor showing at the Major. Analysts like SPUNJ called their performance “diabolical,” making a rebuild highly plausible.

FaZe Clan (#12)

Internal pressure around star AWPer broky has fueled rumors. Although coach NEO says the “team chemistry is good,” results remain inconsistent.

G2 Esports (#9)

Ups and downs throughout the season mean changes are very possible depending on their Major finish.

Team Spirit (#6)

Still strong overall, but the roster has not achieved the level of dominance expected after IEM Katowice.

These teams have not confirmed any moves, but they are the most frequently mentioned candidates in analyst discussions.

Teams Publicly Committed to Stability

Falcons (#3) — “No roster changes planned,” says zonic

Head coach zonic stated in interviews that Falcons will not make changes even if the Major doesn’t meet expectations.
Given the team’s heavy investment, stability appears to be the priority.

FURIA, Vitality

Both are considered unlikely to change players unless their Major runs completely collapse.

Budapest Major 2025: A Turning Point for CS2

The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, running from November 24 to December 14, has already influenced the HLTV ranking landscape:

Current contenders like FURIA, Vitality, Falcons, Spirit, NAVI, FaZe remain in the playoffs.

Their final placements will heavily impact the next HLTV update.

Roster decisions often depend on whether teams meet or miss expectations at Majors.

The combination of high-stakes playoffs and impending roster moves makes Budapest one of the most influential Majors in CS2’s first year.

What This Means for the CS2 2026 Season

If Striker’s prediction holds true:

• 5–8 elite teams will enter 2026 with new players.

• Multiple star AWPers and riflers may move across regions.

• The HLTV top 15 will look drastically different before the first big event of 2026.

• The rumored dev1ce move could trigger a chain reaction among EU teams.

• Organizations like Liquid, FaZe, and G2 are facing tough decisions after underperforming.

The post-Major transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in recent years.