HEROIC have officially announced the departure of Simon “yxngstxr” Boije. The Swedish rifler and AWPer will now begin what the organization described as a “new journey.”
The move closes an unusual chapter for HEROIC. yxngstxr changed roles several times, returned during a teammate’s visa issues, and helped the team reach a Major qualifier.
From Sangal to HEROIC
yxngstxr joined HEROIC in January 2025 as part of a core transfer from Sangal. Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç also arrived from the same team.
During his time with HEROIC, yxngstxr became a regular part of the roster. He adapted to different positions as the team’s needs changed throughout the season.
However, HEROIC made a major roster decision at the start of 2026. The organization benched yxngstxr after signing Tim “susp” Ångström.
Emergency AWP Role
The situation changed quickly before the first events of the 2026 season. Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbay faced visa issues, which forced HEROIC to find a replacement.
As a result, yxngstxr returned from the bench. He filled Alkaren’s place as the team’s AWPer, despite originally joining HEROIC as a rifler.
This role change became more than a short-term solution. With yxngstxr on AWP duty, HEROIC qualified for Stage 1 of the IEM Cologne Major.
He recorded an average 1.00 rating across the season. That result was notable because he had to perform in an unfamiliar role.
HEROIC Summer Rebuild
yxngstxr’s time on the active roster ended on July 7, 2026. HEROIC confirmed that he had stepped down as part of the team’s summer rebuild.
The organization also parted ways with head coach TOBIZ that week. Meanwhile, xfl0ud moved to FUT Esports.
These moves left HEROIC with three contracted players: Linus “nilo” Bergman, Christoffer “Chr1zN” Storgaard, and Tim “susp” Ångström. Therefore, the organization needed to complete a wider rebuild.
Stand-In Appearances After Benching
yxngstxr remained active after moving to HEROIC’s inactive roster. He stood in for EYEBALLERS during BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2.
In addition, he played for the Raccoons mix-team in several online tournaments. These appearances kept the Swedish player visible while his future remained unclear.
HEROIC Complete New Lineup
HEROIC later signed Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez and Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin. The organization also appointed Joonas “doto” Forss as its new head coach.
The current HEROIC roster consists of nilo, susp, Chr1zN, MartinezSa, and Brollan. doto serves as the team’s coach.
yxngstxr’s departure formally ends a challenging but productive period with HEROIC. His flexibility, especially during his emergency AWP stint, helped the team remain competitive during a difficult stretch.
HEROIC now move forward with a rebuilt roster. Meanwhile, yxngstxr’s next destination will be a storyline to follow for the rest of 2026.
