Astralis has crossed a historic threshold. For almost a decade, the Danish organization was synonymous with a purely national Counter-Strike identity, building legendary lineups around homegrown talent and all-Danish communication. That era officially ended on January 8, 2026, when Astralis confirmed the signings of Swedish AWPer Love “phzy” Smidebrant and Lithuanian rifler Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas to its main CS2 roster.
The move doesn’t just swap out two players; it reshapes what Astralis stands for in the global landscape of Counter-Strike. By replacing Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz and Emil “Magisk” Reif with international talent and switching team comms to English, the org is signaling a new, more flexible philosophy. Backed by new ownership and a revamped long-term strategy, Astralis is betting that going international is the best way to rejoin Europe’s elite and stay there.
Astralis Ends Its All-Danish Era
For nearly ten years, Astralis’ primary Counter-Strike roster was defined by one simple constant: every player was Danish. Even as lineups evolved and the game moved from CS:GO to CS2, the org maintained a strict national identity that became part of its brand. From Major-winning cores to rebuilding projects, Astralis’ strategy was always centered on Danish talent pipelines and Danish-language comms.
The announcement of phzy and ryu changes that history in a single stroke. They are the first non-Danish players ever to join Astralis’ main Counter-Strike lineup, transforming what was once a national project into a fully international one. This isn’t a temporary stand-in solution or short-term loan; both players are presented as integral pieces of a long-term rebuild.
Context makes the decision even more dramatic. The shift follows the exits of dev1ce, Magisk, and the mutual parting with Martin “stavn” Lund, three pillars of Astralis’ recent rosters. Rather than simply reshuffle the existing Danish talent pool, Astralis opted to widen its horizons, embracing the broader European market to replenish firepower, roles, and future potential.
The New Look: Astralis’ 2026 CS2 Lineup
With the additions of phzy and ryu, Astralis has locked in its CS2 lineup for the start of 2026. The roster now features Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen as in-game leader, Victor “Staehr” Staehr as a rifle/secondary AWP hybrid, Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard as a rifler, Love “phzy” Smidebrant as the primary AWPer, and Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas as a rifler focused on anchoring roles. Casper “ruggah” Due remains at the helm as coach, stewarding the first true international project in the organization’s Counter-Strike history.
On paper, this lineup combines experience and leadership with youth and upside. HooXi brings a proven IGL profile at tier-one level and familiarity with English-language systems, while jabbi and Staehr supply a solid, battle-tested Danish core. Around them, Astralis is integrating two high-ceiling prospects from the broader European scene, a notable departure from the org’s usual focus on native talent.
The roles are clearly defined: ryu steps into the space formerly occupied by Magisk as a reliable anchor and rifler across key positions, while phzy takes over the AWP mantle from dev1ce. This structure suggests Astralis is not just slotting in replacements; it is actively reshaping its style, leaning on younger players who can grow into responsibilities rather than replicating its old formulas.
English Comms and the Full International Turn
Bringing in a Swede and a Lithuanian required Astralis to address a foundational aspect of the team: communication. With phzy and ryu joining a Danish trio, the organization confirmed that all team comms will switch to English for the 2026 season. For a squad that has historically relied on native-language synergy, this is a fundamental shift that goes far beyond simple roster changes.
English comms open the door for future international additions while also aligning Astralis with a broader trend in elite CS2, where some of the most competitive rosters (and superteams) already operate in English. At the same time, the switch comes with growing pains. Nuanced mid-round calls, emotional reactions, and small information details must now be handled in a second language for much of the roster.
Astralis seems to accept that trade-off as part of a larger strategic bet. With CS2’s competitive landscape increasingly dominated by mixed rosters, staying locked into a single nationality could limit the talent pool and restrict flexibility. Moving to English is therefore both a practical necessity for their current lineup and an investment in a more global, scalable roster philosophy.
phzy: Replacing dev1ce for the Second Time
Among the storylines surrounding Astralis’ new era, none is more striking than phzy once again stepping into a role vacated by dev1ce. The Swedish AWPer previously filled in for the Danish legend at Ninjas in Pyjamas during IEM Winter 2021, and now, years later, he finds himself succeeding dev1ce on Astralis’ main roster. The narrative writes itself: a rising sniper repeatedly entrusted with the shoes of a generational talent.
The trust isn’t unfounded. Throughout 2025, phzy quietly delivered star-level performances despite instability around him. Splitting time between Wildcard and loan stints with 9INE, he maintained an average rating in the 1.14, 1.15 range over roughly 230, 233 maps. He helped teams reach events like the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 1 while constantly adapting to new teammates and systems, no small feat for any AWPer.
Analysts view Astralis as his first real chance to stabilize at tier one. Unlike his previous roles, which often involved short-term fixes and transitional rosters, this project is explicitly built with a “long-term perspective” in mind. If phzy can bring his 2025 form into a more structured environment, Astralis may have found a cost-effective, high-upside successor to dev1ce’s star AWP presence.
ryu: From Monte Academy to Astralis Anchor
While phzy brings name recognition and a compelling storyline, ryu represents the classic modern prospect pickup. Developed within Monte’s academy system (Monte Gen) before his promotion to their main squad, the 21-year-old Lithuanian has already logged hundreds of official maps, more than $28,000 in prize earnings, and a reputation as a dependable anchor rifler across key sites and positions.
Statistically, ryu’s 2025 numbers were promising: an average rating around 1.13, 1.14, enough to grab the attention of scouts and land him at #22 in HLTV’s 2025 prospect report. Those numbers are particularly noteworthy given his roles, which often emphasize survivability, utility, and stability rather than pure stat-padding aggression. As an anchor, his job is often thankless, but crucial.
In Astralis, ryu is tasked with inheriting much of Magisk’s former workload. That means playing demanding anchor positions, providing late-round clutches when needed, and allowing more aggressive teammates to take space elsewhere. For a player still early in his career, it’s a significant step up, but also a clear vote of confidence that he can grow into one of Europe’s most reliable role players.
From Major Return to International Rebuild
The timing of Astralis’ international turn is no coincidence. Under CEO Jonas Gundersen, the team recently experienced its first meaningful breakthrough in years, reaching the second stage of a CS2 Major and coming just one match short of the final stage. After nearly four years without a Major appearance, that run was framed internally as proof that the rebuild was working, and as a platform for the next phase.
Gundersen has been explicit about that next phase. With new ownership taking control in autumn 2025, Astralis is focused on streamlining its business and building a roster that can sustain success over the long term without sacrificing short-term competitiveness. Introducing phzy and ryu as “our first international signings,” he stressed that they bring “new energy” while fitting the style of Counter-Strike Astralis wants to implement moving forward.
This context suggests the changes aren’t reactive panic moves. Instead, the international pivot appears to be part of a broader organizational reset, one that aligns sporting strategy with commercial ambitions. A more globally marketable lineup, promising young stars, and renewed competitiveness at top-tier events all fit neatly into the picture Astralis is trying to paint for 2026 and beyond.
Chasing the European Top 10
Behind the narrative and branding, Astralis’ goals remain brutally simple: win more, climb the rankings, and reestablish itself among Europe’s best. At the end of 2025, the team hovered around 15th in the Valve Regional Standings for Europe, a far cry from its era of dominance but within striking distance of more elite territory. The organization has been candid that the international signings are meant to push the squad back into the European top 10.
To do that, Astralis needs not only individual performances but also rapid integration of roles and systems. HooXi’s leadership must mesh with ruggah’s coaching vision, while jabbi and Staehr adjust to playing alongside two non-Danish teammates under English comms. Meanwhile, phzy and ryu must prove they can translate strong statistics in less stable environments into consistent, tier-one impact.
Reaching the top 10 in CS2’s current competitive climate is no small challenge. International superteams populate the upper tiers, and the margin for error at big events is razor-thin. But Astralis appears willing to accept that difficulty in exchange for access to the wider talent pool and higher long-term upside that an international project provides.
Community Reaction and the Identity Question
The decision to go international has sparked mixed reactions across the community and media. For Danish fans and traditionalists, Astralis’ all-Danish identity was more than a roster quirk, it was a source of national pride and a key element of what made the brand special. Replacing that with an English-speaking, multi-national lineup inevitably raises questions about what remains uniquely “Astralis.”
At the same time, many observers see the pivot as necessary, even overdue. With other organizations already embracing international lineups to keep pace at the top of CS2, clinging to a single-nationality approach risks falling behind. From this perspective, Astralis is not abandoning its heritage so much as updating its methods to remain relevant in a game that has outgrown strict regional boundaries.
Media coverage generally reflects this tension: the move is described as controversial but intriguing. There is recognition that something is being sacrificed, cultural continuity, linguistic comfort, a singular identity, but also a sense that Astralis had little choice if it wants to compete with modern superteams. The coming months will determine whether the gamble can convince skeptics or deepen the divide.
First Test: BLAST Bounty 2026 and Beyond
The theory of this international project won’t have to wait long for its first practical test. Astralis’ new roster is scheduled to debut at BLAST Bounty Season 1, the first tier-one event of 2026, starting on January 12. That tournament will offer an early benchmark of how well the team has integrated its new players, adjusted to English comms, and implemented ruggah’s updated systems.
Results at BLAST Bounty won’t define the entire project, but they will shape its narrative. A strong showing could quickly validate the roster moves, energize the fanbase, and give phzy and ryu confidence as they step into the spotlight. A shaky performance, meanwhile, would fuel doubts about whether Astralis made the right trade-offs in abandoning its all-Danish formula.
Regardless of immediate outcomes, BLAST Bounty marks the start of a crucial evaluation period. Throughout 2026, Astralis will be judged not only on trophies and rankings, but on whether this international lineup can deliver consistently entertaining Counter-Strike, something Gundersen has highlighted as a core aim across both sporting and commercial fronts.
Astralis’ decision to sign phzy and ryu and transition to English comms is more than a standard off-season shuffle; it is a redefinition of what the organization is and hopes to become. By embracing international talent, the org is accepting short-term uncertainty in exchange for the chance to build a more flexible, future-proof roster capable of navigating CS2’s increasingly global ecosystem.
For the players involved, the stakes are equally high. Phzy has a rare second chance to prove himself as a top-tier AWPer on a legendary brand, while ryu gets the opportunity to evolve from promising prospect to established anchor on one of Counter-Strike’s most storied teams. If this experiment succeeds, if the new Astralis can climb back into Europe’s top 10 and beyond, it could set a template for how legacy organizations reinvent themselves without losing the competitive edge that built their names in the first place.