Luminosity appear to be seriously preparing for a full return to Counter-Strike. According to HLTV, the North American organization is in talks with the Monte core, and the project itself is expected to be built as an international lineup around players whose contracts with the Ukrainian club are nearing their end.
“He’s baaack! Welcome home, Steve Maida”
The main symbolism of this story is obvious from the club’s very first message — “He’s baaack! Welcome home, Steve Maida.” The return of the brand’s founder looks not like a formal social media update, but like a clear signal: Luminosity want to become an active part of the scene again, not just a historic banner.
Against that backdrop, the insider report about interest in the Monte lineup looks very logical. If the club really is planning a quick and competitive return, then betting on an already established core with experience at big tournaments is one of the smartest possible routes.
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Luminosity want to sign the Monte core
According to HLTV, Luminosity’s interest currently includes three Monte players at once: Bymas, AZUWU, and afro. All three are reportedly approaching the end of their contracts with the Ukrainian organization and could therefore become the foundation of a new international roster.
This is an important point, because it is not about a random collection of free agents, but about a ready-made core that has already gone through serious tournament competition. That is exactly why such an option looks far more valuable for Luminosity than yet another lineup built from separate names without shared in-game experience.
Rainwaker could also join, while Gizmy is looking elsewhere
In addition to the three main candidates, the report also mentions Rainwaker. Unlike the others, his potential move does not look like a simple contract-expiry departure — it is specifically described as a possible transfer scenario.
At the same time, the situation with captain Gizmy looks different. According to the available information, he is in talks with another project. So if the Monte core really does move to Luminosity, the team will most likely not keep the entire backbone, but only the larger part of it.
lux could become the captain of the new roster
Another important detail is that lux is being named as the potential captain of the new lineup. Earlier, Dust2 Brasil had already reported that he was in talks with Luminosity, and now that line is resurfacing again in a new context.
That option also looks quite understandable. If the club wants to build an international roster, it needs not just an experienced player, but someone who can become the central figure in building a new team. That is why lux’s role in this story may turn out to be even more important than any single transfer.
Monte tried to keep the players, but they decided to move on
HLTV also notes separately that Monte management tried to reach contract extension agreements with the players before the Major. But after the team’s elimination by The MongolZ, the players informed the club of their intention to move on.
That is probably one of the most important parts of the whole story. It shows that this is not only about outside interest from Luminosity, but also about the players’ own internal decision to end this chapter. And that means the Monte project in its current form may really be approaching its end.
Monte still left a strong impression in Cologne
Despite the final 12th–14th place finish, Monte’s performance in Cologne cannot be called unnoticed. The team beat Legacy, paiN, and PARIVISION, and also put up a fight against G2, The MongolZ, and even the eventual champions Falcons.
That is exactly what makes the current interest in the roster even more understandable. Teams like this often attract attention not because of one sensational match, but because of the feeling that they already have a working base that can be developed into a stronger project. It seems Luminosity saw exactly that in Monte.
Steve Maida’s return makes the story even louder
This entire transfer storyline would already be significant even without any additional background, but Steve Maida’s return gives it real weight. At the beginning of 2026, the brand’s founder bought Luminosity back again, returning the club to his control seven years after selling it.
And that matters not only as business news. It is specifically Maida’s name that is tied to Luminosity’s classic identity as one of the iconic brands of the old CS scene. That is why the club’s current move toward a new roster is seen not as a random launch, but as an attempt to restore real influence to the brand.
Luminosity want not just to return, but to regain their weight
The name Luminosity in Counter-Strike has long meant more than just an organization. It is a brand associated with MLG Columbus Major 2016, the Brazilian golden era, and the lineup with FalleN and coldzera that wrote itself into the game’s history.
That is exactly why any return from such a club automatically generates more attention than launching a new brand from scratch. And if the current project really is built around a strong international core, then Luminosity could very quickly stop being just a nostalgic name and once again become a noticeable player on the market.
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An attempt to quickly build a competitive international roster
Luminosity seem seriously committed to returning to Counter-Strike, and the move for the Monte core looks like a very logical step toward that goal. This is not just about collecting names, but about trying to quickly build a competitive international roster with an already proven base.
Against the backdrop of Steve Maida’s return, this story looks even stronger. If the talks really do end successfully, Luminosity could become one of the most interesting projects of the upcoming transfer period — and one of the loudest comebacks of an old brand in modern CS.
