Valve Struggles to Recruit s1mple for Counter-Strike 2

Valve, the developer of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), is facing a major challenge with one of its most popular pro players, s1mple. Despite the hype surrounding the game's release, the community has been plagued with several issues that have made the game feel unpolished and not yet ready for global release.

Players have reported issues with broken hitboxes, Michael Jackson peeks, and random frame drops that have significantly impacted both competitive and casual gameplay. Despite Valve's attempts to fix these bugs with patches and updates, new issues seem to arise daily, leaving players disappointed and frustrated. This has been especially disappointing for veteran players who were hoping to see their favorite esports franchise carry over to the new sequel.

S1mple's Verdict

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev, the primary AWPer for Natus Vincere and one of the best CS players in the world, expressed his disappointment on Twitter/X about Valve's decision to start the much-awaited IEM Sydney 2023 with CS2 in its current state. He demanded that professional CS players should wait for at least three more months before the game is updated and fixed to be esport ready. Despite NaVi qualifying for the event, s1mple decided not to participate in the tournament and took a break from pro play.

S1mple's verdict was a clear indication of his frustration with the state of CS2 and Valve's lack of action. He believed that the game was far from being in an ideal state for professional play and that starting a major tournament in its current state was not a wise decision. His decision to take a break from pro play was a bold move, but it also highlighted the gravity of the situation. It remains to be seen how Valve will respond to s1mple's demands, but his verdict has certainly raised some important questions about the future of CS2 in esports.

Valve Shut Down By s1mple

NaVi's star player, s1mple, announced on Twitter/X that he would not be participating in the IEM Sydney CS2 tournament. The reason behind his absence was his protest against Valve, who had organized a major tournament while CS2 was still in an unfixed state. As one of the most recognizable players of the game, s1mple's absence was a significant blow to the tournament's credibility.

During one of his Twitch streams, s1mple revealed that a Valve developer had reached out to him on Twitter/X to inquire about the issues he had raised. However, s1mple felt offended by the question and did not respond.

The CS2 community has been vocal about the game's problems, with players mocking and pointing out the issues of the game. Memes and videos regarding the game's tick rate and hitboxes are everywhere, and players have reported character models breaking and moving in awkward ways. The frustration of the community with the game is evident.

In response to the community's concerns, s1mple decided to let the developers figure out the issues themselves. He advised aspiring CS2 pros to wait for updates before playing the game, stating that they still had three months to prepare.

Valve's inability to address the game's issues has led to a significant loss of credibility in the eyes of the CS2 community, with even top players like s1mple refusing to participate in tournaments. It remains to be seen whether Valve will take the necessary steps to address the community's concerns and regain their trust.