In a surprising turn of events, Astralis, the well-known Danish esports organization, has encountered financial challenges that have led to a delay in its December payroll. This situation affects not only the organization’s staff but also its Counter-Strike 2 players. The news comes on the heels of Astralis’s recent acquisition by Fusion Esports Group, which took place in September 2025. Sources report that the salaries, originally scheduled for December 1st, were not disbursed as planned.
Jonas Gundersen, the CEO of Astralis, has confirmed a two-week postponement in salary payments due to ‘challenges’ faced by the new ownership. To mitigate the impact, all affected employees are promised a ten percent bonus when their salaries are eventually paid. Gundersen acknowledged the unfortunate timing, stating, “It is really bad timing for the employees here in the middle of December.”
Astralis’ Financial and Competitive Struggles
The financial issues at Astralis are not entirely unforeseen. Before the acquisition, the organization reported a significant financial loss for 2024, amounting to DKK 31.3 million (~£3.6 million). This downturn was attributed to underperformance in tournaments and the restructuring of the Counter-Strike esports ecosystem by Valve in 2023. The removal of franchised leagues, which previously guaranteed revenue for esports organizations, added to the financial strain as they now face uncertainties in revenue from tournament participation.
Despite these setbacks, Astralis is determined to push forward, aiming to make it to Stage 3 of the Budapest Major. Success against Team Liquid in their upcoming best-of-three series on December 2nd could propel them closer to a lucrative playoff spot, although the competition promises to be stiff.