In October 2024, legendary Counter-Strike player S1mple announced that he would be taking a break from professional competition. This decision coincided with the transition from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) to Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), a shift that introduced numerous changes to the competitive landscape.
Although S1mple stepped away from professional play, he remained active in the gaming scene, frequently streaming FACEIT matches. Towards the end of 2024, he even played as a stand-in for Falcons, before the Middle Eastern organization finalized its new roster, with Nik0 as the star player.
Is S1mple Done with Counter-Strike?
Now, nearly four months into 2025, S1mple appears to have moved away from streaming and has shown little interest in returning to Counter-Strike 2 competitively.
More surprisingly, it seems that S1mple is not even playing CS2 casually anymore. In a recent video by content creator ZLOY, where S1mple made a guest appearance, the former NAVI superstar admitted that he has spent more time playing Dota 2 than Counter-Strike 2 in recent months.
“I watch Counter-Strike, I love it, and I play it, but right now, I play more Dota 2 than Counter-Strike 2.”
The conversation even included jokes about S1mple potentially becoming a professional Dota 2 player. However, since his Steam profile is private, there is no way to confirm exactly how many hours he has played or his rank in Dota 2.
Will S1mple Return as the Best?
Despite having a massive fan base eager for his return, S1mple has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Counter-Strike 2. His absence from competitive play and his increased focus on Dota 2 suggest that his comeback to CS2 is uncertain.
However, a recent development might change things. ZywOo recently surpassed S1mple in HLTV MVP awards, potentially motivating the Ukrainian to reclaim his throne as the greatest of all time (GOAT).