Esports fans have a thrilling start to 2026 as BLAST has unveiled that ECSTATIC will step in for Imperial Esports at the highly anticipated BLAST Bounty Season 1 Counter-Strike 2 event. This change brings ECSTATIC into the limelight, providing them an opportunity to showcase their prowess in a significant Tier 1 competition. ECSTATIC is stepping in to replace Imperial Esports at BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026, marking their return to a Tier 1 event since August.
ECSTATIC’s Return to Tier 1 Events
The announcement, made on December 23rd, 2025, signifies ECSTATIC’s return to top-tier competition after their participation in the online phase of BLAST Open London. There, they faced stiff competition from FaZe Clan and Fnatic, eventually securing a top-16 finish. Despite the excitement surrounding their entry, the reasons for ECSTATIC taking Imperial Esports’ spot remain undisclosed. Outside of Tier 1 events, ECSTATIC has recently claimed a second place in DraculaN #3 and a victory in Winline Insight Season 9.
Updated Team Roster for BLAST Bounty Season
Scheduled from January 13th to 18th, 2026, the BLAST Bounty Season will see 32 teams battling in online qualifiers for a spot in the LAN playoffs in Malta from January 22nd to 25th. With Imperial Esports stepping back, the updated roster includes notable teams such as FURIA, Team Vitality, NAVI, and Astralis, among others.
- FURIA
- Team Falcons
- Team Vitality
- Aurora Gaming
- Team Spirit
- Team Liquid
- NAVI
- Astralis
- HEROIC
- 3DMAX
- paiN Gaming
- FaZe Clan
- Parivision
- Gentle Mates
- GamerLegion
- FUT Esports
- BetBoom Team
- Fnatic
- M80
- Passion UA
- HOTU
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- NRG
- EYEBALLERS
- Inner Circle Esports
- OG Esports
- 9INE
- ENCE
- Virtus.pro
- Monte
- SINNERS Esports
- ECSTATIC
With ECSTATIC now ranked 44th in the Valve Regional Standings, the BLAST Bounty Season offers them a promising opportunity to make a significant impact early in the year. As a result of their inclusion, the number of participating teams from the Americas has been reduced from five to four.