s1mple Joins FaZe. The GOAT Returns to Stop Vitality’s Winning Streak?!
Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev even chose a beautiful date for his third comeback attempt – 05.05.2025. After the sudden announcement about broky being moved to the bench, the entire community was on edge for an hour waiting to see who would take the vacant sniper position in FaZe. Surprisingly, there weren’t many options and degster seemed like the most viable choice, but most believed in the GOAT’s comeback, and their expectations were confirmed. This news even overshadowed the hype after another crazy final between Falcons and Vitality, where ZywOo and company once again proved stronger, securing their fifth trophy in 2025 and their 25th consecutive victory. Let’s analyze whether s1mple can challenge his French rival who has broken all of his individual records.
How did s1mple's previous stints with Falcons go?
The first attempt was in February-March 2024, when after failing at the RMR and missing the first CS2 Major, the team removed BOROS and loaned s1mple for one month. The decision immediately seemed strange, as they gave Sasha the rifler role. Everyone tried to find logic in this, saying that the AWP in CS2 wasn’t the same and the former sniper could transition to a rifle. It might have worked long-term, but s1mple played just one online match where Falcons lost to Sweden’s Metizport. The loan ended before it really began, and zonic invited his old friend dupreeh to fill the vacant spot.
Apparently, s1mple managed to impress Falcons – they decided to give each other a second chance and this time entrusted the sniper with his primary weapon. This happened six months later, more than a month before the next Major qualifiers, in October 2024. Initially, the team warmed up at the online Thunderpick tournament, where they lost to 3DMAX and Virtus.pro, and then headed to a modest LAN – ESL Challenger Katowice 2024. The list of opponents at this event was quite modest, and everyone expected competitors’ hands to shake just seeing s1mple, dupreeh, and Magisk. But even there, the CS:GO legends lost to SAW and Eternal Fire, once again exiting the tournament without a single victory.
Then came the RMR, for which Falcons prepared for two weeks, and there the experienced lineup managed to secure their only victory in overtime against ECLOT, but after losing 3 matches, they missed the second Major in a row. So, in 2024, Alexander Kostylev won only one BO1 out of 9 matches, but admittedly – individually he looked almost like the best player on the team.
Why did FaZe decide to pick up s1mple?
As we understood, CS2 and the greatest player of the previous version clearly hadn’t found common ground and hadn’t become friends. So why did FaZe take such a risk? The decision seems very controversial, as a motivated degster appeared to be a much more logical and “reliable” choice. But now we’ll try to explain karrigan and his team’s logic.
FaZe haven’t won a tier-1 event for over a year, their last victory was at IEM Chengdu 2024, though they reached grand finals but were simply unlucky in key moments. After ropz’s departure, the team became incredibly inconsistent, affecting broky the most, who stopped hitting default shots and sometimes made absolutely inexplicable decisions during games. Replacing the Latvian was necessary, and everyone expected degster’s arrival, but in our view – Abdul would have simply fixed the existing problems in the sniper role. Most likely such a lineup would confidently reach playoffs, but could they stop Falcons or catch up to Vitality – that’s doubtful.
Obviously, FaZe’s problem is much deeper, and they needed this ALL IN, which the captain will mention after s1mple’s transfer. Clearly, right here and now degster seems stronger, but what if s1mple regains his prime form? This “what if” is exactly what FaZe is betting on, and undoubtedly – it’s not groundless and could pay off! You acquire a player with an incredible aura and feedback, who shares your winner’s mentality and knows how to win trophies. Look what happened to each Falcons player after m0NESY’s arrival – it’s simply a different team. This difference is what separates tier-S players from just quality and reliable soldiers.
FaZe isn’t interested in “performing decently” – exiting from last place or second place is equally unacceptable to them, and they need someone who thinks exactly the same way. “Slow and steady wins the race” is not FaZe’s choice. They’re ready to get into a Formula 1 racecar that hasn’t been serviced for a long time, just to finish first. For them, this is better than finishing second even in a proven and quality vehicle.
What to expect from the new FaZe?
Currently, there’s no information about s1mple’s game form, and judging by his Faceit profile, he played only 12 maps throughout April. The first tournament – IEM Dallas – FaZe Clan will play with skullz instead of rain, and it won’t be possible to draw full conclusions about teamwork. The only thing we’ll be able to understand is the sniper’s individual form, and the whole world expects to see that very potential of the great player.
On the positive side – FaZe consists of experienced, titled, and skilled players – this time among Sasha’s teammates there won’t be any Snappi or Maden. Therefore, there’s reason to believe that all emotions will be directed toward efficient and productive work, not disputes and minor conflicts. There aren’t many players in the world who can say something to s1mple from the height of their experience, and at least 3 of them are already in FaZe. Objectively – Sasha could hardly have imagined better teammates than he has now, and according to him, he’s already looking forward to starting the preparation process.
Will two fading fires be able to merge into one big one and shine again? We’ll see soon! It’s hard not to recall previous attempts with Falcons, but then s1mple came to complete ashes, while FaZe’s flame hasn’t completely gone out yet, but clearly needs quality rekindling.
Should Vitality fear the new competitors?
Vitality have already shown how one precise addition of a tier-S player can radically change everything. Falcons demonstrated the same with NiKo and finally cemented the result after signing m0NESY. FaZe obviously want to follow the same path, but their trump card lies deep in the deck – yet it remains a trump card, and now they need to get it into their hand.
The first statements from s1mple are already appearing online, and they mention only the highest goals, featuring those very Vitality who have “annoyed” him. ZywOo clearly should prepare for another serious competitor, because after Falcons’ appearance it became a bit suffocating, and Alexander Kostylev knows perfectly well how to suffocate. Clearly, comparing the current form of the teams is simply impossible, but CS history loves beautiful and symbolic events. The GOAT returns to prove he’s still the best, and this time – in a red Ferrari, not a green Fiat.
