Astralis have officially announced the signings of Love “phzy” Smidebrant and Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas. With these additions, the organization completes its active roster and confirms a long-anticipated shift toward an international lineup for the 2026 season. As a result, English will become the team’s working language, while a Danish core of HooXi, jabbi, and Staehr remains in place.
A strategic pivot for Astralis
The signings follow a period of high-profile departures. Instead of returning to a Danish-only identity, Astralis have chosen a clear evolutionary path. According to CEO Jonas Gundersen, the move is part of a broader long-term rebuild that aims to balance immediate competitiveness with sustainable growth throughout 2026.
Moreover, Gundersen emphasized that both players were selected not only for their individual skill. Equally important was their ability to integrate quickly into a faster and more dynamic system. This system will be shaped by in-game leader HooXi and head coach ruggah.
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phzy: experience and stability
phzy joins Astralis after a turbulent but productive year. During that time, he represented both Wildcard and 9INE. Despite the instability, the Swedish rifler maintained a strong 1.15 average rating. He consistently showed adaptability across different systems. For Astralis, phzy is expected to add structure and discipline. In addition, his experience in international rosters fits the profile the organization has actively sought during its rebuild.
ryu: Monte’s breakout prospect
Meanwhile, ryu arrives from Monte, where his rise became one of the most notable development stories of the past year. After progressing through Monte Gen, he earned a permanent promotion to the main roster in early 2025. He finished the year with a 1.13 average rating and growing recognition as one of Europe’s most promising young talents. Importantly, his signing gives Astralis a flexible rifler. He can operate as an anchor or a lurker, which adds depth and versatility to the team’s tactical options.
Community reaction: hype, debate, and optimism
Unsurprisingly, the announcement triggered an immediate wave of reactions across social media. Many fans welcomed the move as a bold but necessary evolution. Others focused on role balance and long-term chemistry.
At the same time, former teammates and community figures publicly congratulated ryu on joining a legendary organization. Memes, hype posts, and analytical takes quickly followed, highlighting both excitement and high expectations.
What’s next
Next, Astralis will debut their revamped roster at BLAST Bounty Season 1. The online stage begins on January 12. Given the limited preparation time, the event will act as an early benchmark for the project’s progress.
Astralis roster (2026)
- Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen
- Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard
- Victor “Staehr” Staehr
- Love “phzy” Smidebrant
- Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas
- Casper “ruggah” Due (coach)
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A new chapter begins
With the roster now finalized, Astralis enter 2026 with a clearly defined direction. English communication marks a structural shift, but ambitions remain familiar. BLAST Bounty Season 1 will be the first real test, offering an early glimpse into how quickly this international lineup can turn change into results in Counter-Strike 2.
