Rostermania has well and truly begun, with plenty of teams making CS:GO roster changes to ensure their squads are ready for the rest of the 2023 season. With CS2 on the way and ready to change everything, these are arguably some of the most important CS:GO roster moves in a very long time.
The confirmed changes so far have been crazy, but the rumor mill is equally unhinged. We’re taking a look at both to get the full picture of this off-season’s CS:GO roster changes.
Confirmed CS:GO Roster Changes
Astralis
–gla1ve –Altekz
+Staehr +b0RUP
Credit: Astralis
It’s the end of an era for Astralis, who have finally benched four-time Major-winning IGL gla1ve. Given his form over the past few years, it was probably time. IGL duties have moved to blameF, who played the role for Complexity in the past. Meanwhile, academy prospect Altekz moves back to Astralis Talent, perhaps a surprising move given his performances showed potential.
Incoming is Staehr from Sprout, who Astralis have chased for over a year. He’s one of the best talents Denmark has produced in years, and should be a slam dunk for Astralis. He’s joined by b0RUP, formerly of Copenhagen Flames. This is more of a risky move, given he’s relatively unproven. If he’s been brought in to play a particular role and does it well, it could be a team that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Astralis are:
blameF
dev1ce
Buzz
Staehr
b0RUP
BIG
–faveN –k1to –hyped
+prosus +s1n +mantuu
Credit: BIGCLANgg on Twitter
It’s hard to get too excited about this roster. BIG are perennial floaters; they’re just sort of… there. Right now, only prosus and s1n have our curiosity. If they can emerge as stars from the BIG Academy, they’ll have our attention.
BIG are:
tabseN
Krimbo
prosus
s1n
mantuu
Complexity
–FaNg
+EliGE
Credit: Complexity
What’s not to love about this? EliGE gets a much-needed change of scenery, and Complexity gets a potential world-class rifler if he can find his form. A+, no notes.
Complexity are:
JT
floppy
Grim
hallzerk
EliGE
Evil Geniuses
–Brehze –refrezh –neaLaN –wiz
+junior +Joerge +Walco +HexT +RUSH (substitute)
Credit: EGCSGO on Twitter
At this point, it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening over at EG. Their new roster comprises EG Black players promoted to the main roster, as well as autimatic remaining from the previous. It’s a mess, but this isn’t the worst move they could’ve made this off-season.
Evil Geniuses are:
autimatic
junior
Jeorge
Walco
Hext
RUSH (substitute)
Falcons
–Python –kennyS –misutaaa
+lauNX +mhL +BOROS
Credit: Falcons
Anyone that claims they thought Falcons would win the CS:GO roster moves is a bare-faced liar. Yet here they are, their new international project looking incredible. After kennyS’ retirement earlier this year, they had a lot of business to do here.
The BOROS acquisition is a remarkable coup. Monte’s rifler was one of the discoveries of the Paris Major, and it was thought he’d go to a bigger team. Well done, Falcons. Both mhL and lauNX are exciting players too, so expect to see Falcons swiftly rise the ranks in the rest of 2023.
Falcons are:
NBK-
bodyy
lauNX
mhL
BOROS
Liquid
–nitr0 –EliGE
+Patsi +Rainwaker
Credit: TeamLiquidCS on Twitter
What? Why? This new lineup is truly reckless from Liquid, who for the first time in their history are no longer an NA team. This means that they must now qualify through Majors through the tougher EU RMR, sacrificing what was essentially a free spot at every CS:GO Major.
We’d understand taking this chance on stars like NiKo or ropz. But to do it for inexperienced players like Patsi and Rainwaker, from the outside this seems like Liquid are asleep at the wheel. No disrespect to the new duo – they deserve the chance to prove themselves, but to shake up the entire team in this way could spell the end of Liquid in Tier-1 CS if it goes wrong.
Liquid are:
NAF
oSee
Yekindar
Rainwaker
Patsi
NIP
–Aleksib
+hampus
Credit: NIPCS on Twitter
The very definition of lateral movement. NIP should reap some benefits from hampus’ rest, but this move doesn’t make them contenders. In a word? Underwhelming.
NIP are:
REZ
hampus
Brollan
headtr1ck
k0nfig
Vitality
–dupreeh
+flameZ
Credit: TeamVitality on Twitter
Brutal. Just over a month ago, dupreeh made Vitality CS:GO Major winners, and now finds himself on the bench. This is the sign of a truly great team. They’re on top now, but to stay there requires the toughest of decisions. With dupreeh now 30, he could fall off at a moment’s notice. And with a free agent like flameZ on the market, they couldn’t afford to dither.
It’s an understandably controversial move, but one that could keep Vitality on top for years to come.
Vitality are:
apEX
ZywOo
Magisk
Spinx
flameZ
Rumored CS:GO Roster Changes
Cloud9
–buster –nafany
+electroNic +Perfecto
Credit: BLASTtv on Twitter
Wow. Let’s pack it up and go home, because if this Cloud9 rumor comes to fruition, you’re looking at an instant top 3 team in the world. Even with electroNic as IGL, this move sends the Cloud9 CS:GO roster into the stratosphere. It’s an expensive move for the team, but absolutely necessary if those players are available.
Cloud9 would be:
sh1ro
Ax1Le
HObbit
Perfecto
electroNic
FURIA
–drop –saffee
+FalleN +chelo
Credit: Imperialesports on Twitter
Rumors of FalleN’s retirement seem to be greatly exaggerated. This would be a brilliant move for FURIA, who have struggled of late. Ultimately, saffee hasn’t looked up to the demands of Tier 1, and drop wasn’t that guy either. Of all the potential CS:GO roster changes, this would be among the best.
FURIA would be:
yuurih
arT
KSCERATO
chelo
FalleN
MOUZ
–dexter
+siuhy
Credit: BLASTtv on Twitter
If MOUZ can do this deal, they’ll emerge as one of the big winners of this year’s CS:GO roster changes. After taking GamerLegion to the Grand Final of the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, siuhy instantly became one of the top IGL prospects in the world. He could have his pick of the top teams, and instead, it looks like he’s choosing to go back to MOUZ.
This move will come with a hint of frustration for MOUZ. They could’ve put together this exact roster in early 2022, and they’d probably be challenging for trophies by now. With CS2 around the corner, they’ve got a chance to right those wrongs if siuhy comes in as expected.
MOUZ would be:
frozen
dexter
torzsi
JDC
xertioN
NAVI
–npl –Perfecto –electroNic
+Aleksib +iM +jL
Credit: Daniel Morris
NAVI going international? With Aleksib? File this under “Things we never saw coming in a million years.” This has the potential to be either the best or the worst CS:GO roster change this year. Obviously, something isn’t clicking at NAVI, and change is needed. But this is bold. Our 2023 CS:GO player predictions saw -npl coming – his performance is nowhere near the required standard.
NAVI are betting BIG on iM and jL. The pair were breakout stars in the Paris Major, and could be brilliant investments if they maintain form. But Aleksib? He’s now been booted from G2 and NIP in the space of ten months, and now finds himself falling upward to NAVI. He’s our big concern here.
NAVI would be:
s1mple
b1t
iM
jL
Aleksib
OG
–degster –NEOFRAG –flameZ –niko
+nexa +regali +k1to +FASHR
Credit: OGCSGO on Twitter
This is certainly a team of players. While the outgoings are confirmed, the incoming players are still in flux. We’re not sure what OG are wanting to achieve with these CS:GO roster changes, because they’re certainly not going to be challenging for trophies. Disappointing, to say the least. Spare a thought for degster, who now finds himself looking for a new team despite being OG’s best player in the last twelve months.
OG would be:
F1KU
nexa
regali
k1to
FASHR
TSM
+dupreeh +syrsoN +JACKZ
Credit: Daniel Morris
After six years away from the game, new rumors suggest TSM is making a comeback to CS:GO. They’re doing so in a big way too, immediately targeting dupreeh, syrsoN, and JACKZ. Even if this roster is a little on the older side, it’s hard not to get excited about one of esports’ giants returning to the game. We pray this one comes to fruition, and we’re excited to see who else joins this trio.
TSM would be:
dupreeh
syrsoN
JACKZ
About Post Author
