Falcons are gathering the best for their 2025 roster. Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) competition continues to escalate into higher levels as teams strive beyond their limits. With that, reports have been going around that Team Falcon may create a lineup that will reshape the CS2 esports scene. Several sources and insider reports are claiming that the Saudi Arabian organization is taking a leap for 2025.
They are moving to sign two of the current biggest stars in the league, which are Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač. These serve as the starting point for what they are aiming to be the most star-studded roster ever in the history of CS2 esports. Will the Falcon s1mple and Falcon NiKo come through for 2025?
The Pursuit of Excellence
There’s no other goal but to dominate the CS2 scene. Team Falcons’ remain steadfast in their ambition to place their organization on top of teams across the world. The 2024 season may be harsh on their team as they faced challenges with their inconsistent performances. Yet, there’s no time for them to harbor this feeling, and instead, they are more determined to elevate themselves.
What seems to be their first step in doing so is acquiring the top-tier talents in the league. In the YouTube podcast of Richard Lewis, a British analyst, he shared that a whisper tells Falcons plan of acquiring both s1mple and Niko in their roster. Further, he added that an organization’s executive has compared this plan to having soccer stars, Messi and Ronaldo, in a team together. This definitely builds on the scale of the roster the fans are about to see in the 2025 competitive season.
NiKo: A Long-Awaited Addition
He has shown nothing but exceptional performance in his career that includes him in the top-tier prospects of Team Falcons. Many are suggesting that his move to the Falcons is, at last, in its final stages. With this, the coming of the superstar team for next year’s competition is now a closer reality. Some reports are saying that NiKo, currently playing for G2 Esports, has an offer of a three-year contract from Team Falcons. The contract worth is deemed between $1 million and $1.2 million that will start in January 2025.
This has been one of the few attempts of Falcons to persuade Niko to join the organization. An attempt was first made in late 2023, when the team aimed for an ambitious roster rebuild. If the plans push through, he will be playing with Emil “Magisk” Reif and Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer. However, NiKo declined the offer to stay with his team, G2 Esports, until the 2024 season. Yet, it seems like the star is planning to take a different route for his 2025 playing career.
S1mple: The GOAT’s Return
s1mple’s story of addition to Falcons is yet to unfold a layer of excitement in the upcoming competitive season. His career is loaded with achievements from his exceptional skills and talents. With this, he has been regarded as the greatest Counter-Strike player of all time. However, the disappointing end of CS:GO led to s1mple taking a break from professional play.
Moving forward, HLTV reports the possible return of s1mple in the competitive scene may come sooner than it seems. Based on the rumors going around, the Ukrainian star will be on loan as a substitute for Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia of Falcons in the AWP role. With this arrangement, it is likely that this might turn permanent in 2025.
Besides, s1mple and the Falcons organization had already established their connection earlier in 2024. The legendary player briefly played with Falcons during his stint for the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown.
Looking Ahead
Whether history is to come ahead of the 2025 competitive season is a question that lingers for the CS2 esports community. It is a difficult task to create a star-studded roster considering the financial restrictions it may impose. Some contracts may include a buyout to get hold of the best player in their role. With this, it is certainly a daunting task for the Saudi Arabian organization to complete their ambition. Yet, it does not mean that it is impossible, especially since they are currently making bold moves to sign the iconic players.
If they manage to make Falcons’ s1mple and Falcons’ NiKo into reality, this will mean a huge hurdle for teams in the upcoming 2025. As of now, Team Falcons has yet to make an official confirmation on these reports. Nonetheless, it’ll still be a great shift in the power balance of the CS2 competitive scene as the stars gather for a single team.