Josh “steel” Nissan, a prominent esports star, has hinted that his indefinite ban from Counter-Strike may soon come to an end. He suggests that he will be able to participate in Valve-partnered Counter-Strike 2 events starting from the beginning of the 2025 season. This potential return date coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the iBUYPOWER bans, which caused significant controversy within the CS community. While Steel had previously been unbanned by ESL and Dreamhack in 2017, Valve’s approval was the final hurdle he needed to overcome.
In a tweet on October 25, Steel mentioned his anticipated return in January 2025 and expressed his desire to move on from one of Global Offensive’s biggest scandals. He stated that he is ready to be defined by something new and more positive.
If the January unban date is indeed accurate, Steel will have the opportunity to participate in all future CS events, including Majors. Previously, Majors were off-limits for Steel, but now there is a possibility of seeing him on stage at CS2’s biggest event. Dot Esports has reached out to Steel for further confirmation and details.
Despite his involvement in the iBUYPOWER vs. Netcodeguides.com throwing scandal in 2015, Steel has remained active in the CS:GO scene for years. He has contributed to the growth of North American talent through teams like Torqued, Ghost Gaming, and Chaos, many of whom have transitioned to VALORANT.
While Steel has also ventured into the VALORANT pro scene, playing for teams such as 100 Thieves, T1, and Disguised, he has never truly left the Counter-Strike community. He has continued to dabble in CS2 since its release and currently competes professionally for Bad News Bears in ESL Challenger League Season 46 North America, alongside former Extra Salt IGL Aran “Sonic” Groesbeek.
Steel’s last Major appearance was at ESL One Cologne 2014 with the infamous iBUYPOWER squad. Since then, he has been unable to participate in any RMRs or Major events.
Come January, it seems that Steel will finally be able to put all of this behind him and make a fresh start in the Counter-Strike community.
Source: DOTESPORTS
