Cloud9 leaves Counter-Strike 2 again

There are many competitive teams in the Counter-Strike 2 landscape. While some are known names, others are relatively unknown that not oo many fans care for. While Cloud9 has been a huge name in the overall gaming industry for years now, its presence in the CS2 scene has been shaky at best.

Now, Cloud9 has decided to depart from the Counter-Strike scene for good. The organization had already disbanded much of its roster, and now an official announcement finally confirmed that the organization is departing from the game’s professional scene, though the team may return at some point.

Here’s everything to know about Cloud9 leaving the Counter-Strike 2 scene and whether it’ll return.

Cloud9’s exit from Counter-Strike 2

Cloud9 has officially announced its departure from the Counter-Strike competitive scene again, marking the end of its latest run in the professional CS2 scene. The organization had initially left the CS2 scene in 2021 before returning with a new roster in 2022 but has decided to exit indefinitely.

A struggling project comes to an end

The decision comes after years of underwhelming performances. Cloud9’s CIS project failed to get much success despite having some of the scene’s most talented players. After winning IEM Dallas in 2022, the team struggled to make an impact with disappointing placements in major tournaments, including a 16th-place finish at IEM Katowice 2025 and an early elimination at the Perfect World Shanghai Major.

The organization had already been stripping away its roster in the previous months. Players like Kaisar ”ICY” Faiznurov, Sergey ”Ax1Le” Rykhtorov, and Kirill ”Boombl4” Mikhaylov joined other teams, while coach Konstantin ”groove” Pikiner and team manager Aleksandr ”sweety10” Shcherbakov were let go.

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Cloud9’s statement and future possibilities

Cloud9 addressed its exit in an X (formerly Twitter) post ^[1], saying:

“With their departures, C9 is taking a step back from Counter-Strike 2. While we have no immediate plans to re-enter, we love CS and are always on the lookout for opportunities.”

This statement suggests that their departure may not be permanent and they might return later. Rumors had circulated about a potential return to a North American roster with former Major winner Timothy ”autimatic” Ta hinting at reforming Cloud9’s 2018 Boston Major-winning team. Unfortunately, these plans didn’t come to fruition.
A necessary break for Cloud9?
This hiatus might be the correct move, considering the team’s struggle. The organization’s inability to compete at the highest level despite having incredible talent suggests a need for restructuring. 

For now, Cloud9 fans must wait and see if and when the organization will return to the Counter-Strike scene.

References

1. [1] "Cloud9 X post". x.com. Retrieved February 15, 2025