I’ve been following the Counter-Strike scene for years, and few stories have resonated with me quite like the saga of XANTARES’ Twitch ban. Even now in 2026, looking back at what happened in the summer of 2025, it remains one of the most remarkable turnarounds in streaming history.

In June 2021, Turkish CS superstar İsmailcan ‘XANTARES’ Dörtkardeş was suddenly banned from Twitch. The exact reason was never made fully public, though XANTARES himself admitted he deserved whatever punishment came his way. “I definitely deserve it, it’s not their fault bro,” he said at the time, pointing toward a community guidelines violation. Some speculated it was tied to alleged toxic behavior in a CS:GO match, but no one could have predicted the ban would stretch on for nearly four years.

Fast forward to June 4, 2025. After 3 years, 11 months and 5 days, XANTARES’ Twitch channel suddenly came back to life. The Counter-Strike world lit up – by that point, CS:GO had been replaced by Counter-Strike 2, and XANTARES had moved from Eternal Fire to Aurora Gaming. But one thing never changed: his fans had waited. And the moment the unban hit, they let him know.

Aurora Gaming was ecstatic. The org’s social channels immediately tagged XANTARES and asked when the first stream would drop. The pro player was equally emotional, crediting Aurora and its CEO Adalet for fighting through what he called an “impossible” situation. “I reached out countless times and explored every possible option,” XANTARES said. “Everything changed when I joined Aurora.” He described the process as a “tough journey,” adding that it was the unwavering support of his team – and especially Adalet’s determination – that finally made the difference.

From my perspective as a fan and a regular Twitch viewer, this wasn’t just about one account being restored. XANTARES’ words captured it perfectly: “This isn’t just the restoration of a Twitch account. It is the return of a legacy, a community, and years of dedication and passion.” That sentiment hits hard. I remember watching his old highlights before the ban, and even then his energy was something special. Seeing him back on the platform felt like a missing puzzle piece clicking into place.

The context of Twitch policy changes gave the story an even bigger backdrop. In early 2025, Twitch had begun alerting permabanned creators that they could apply to restore their accounts, acknowledging that the system had “disproportionately impacted longtime streamers.” Controversial streamer Adin Ross, banned for two years, got his account back around the same time. XANTARES’ unban felt like part of a larger wave of second chances.

Now, in 2026, XANTARES is once again a familiar face on Twitch. He streams Counter-Strike 2 regularly, shares behind-the-scenes moments from the Aurora bootcamp, and reconnects with the community that never forgot him. His return has added a new layer to his career. The chaotic, high-skill fragging I first admired years ago is still there, but now there’s a deeper story – one of redemption and loyalty. It’s not every day a four-year ban gets reversed, but when it does, you can’t help but feel that sometimes, even the toughest stories get a second chance.

🎮 What a journey for XANTARES:

• Banned on Twitch: June 2021

• CS2 released: 2023 (while banned)

• Joined Aurora Gaming: early 2025

• Unbanned: June 4, 2025

• Active streaming in 2026 ✅

If you haven’t tuned into his channel yet, I wholeheartedly recommend it. There’s nothing quite like watching a player who has truly returned home.