Will Cloud9 Return to Counter-Strike? C9 Jack says yes if it can be made sustainable

Michael Hassall Published April 28, 2026

Cloud9’s CEO has outlined his terms for the North American organization returning to Counter-Strike in an Esports World Cup press conference with other esports CEOs.

Founder of Cloud9 and CEO Jack Etienne joined the Esports Foundation (EF) Club Partner Program 2026 Online Media Rumble on April 27 to outline some of the Club Partner related news ahead of the EWC.

Posed with the question on whether C9 could rejoin Counter-Strike, Etienne explained just what he’d need to get Cloud9 back into CS: Sustainability.

Cloud9 could return to Counter-Strike if there was “an opportunity to do it sustainably”

During the press conference, a Zoom meeting sat in on by several members of the media, several North American esports executives were asked about the Club Partner programme, and their teams’ plans for the Esports World Cup.

Jack Etienne was asked whether C9 would consider going back into Counter-Strike and whether NA players were more demanding than other regions.

“I would need to find a way to do it sustainably, which is really typical, especially in Counter-Strike.”

The Esports Foundation (EF) Club Partner Program 2026 Online Media Rumble. Image Credit: Esports Foundation/EWC

Continuing the answer, Etienne explained that no region is particular is more demanding than another:

“As far as demanding, these players deserve to be demanding, from all these regions. I really have enjoyed working with all of these regions and all of these players. They all have the same passion to be the best.

So if I saw an opportunity to do it sustainably for Cloud9 in any one of these regions, I would immediately jump at it. But it’s a difficult market, so I don’t have an opportunity right now.”

C9 currently operates teams in League of Legends, Call of Duty, Rainbow 6, and VALORANT. Cloud9 departed from CS in April 2025, after over a decade in the game.

The Esports Foundation (EF) Club Partner Program 2026 Online Media Rumble was part of a series of pressers this past week highlighting the upcoming EWC 2026. However their promotion was perhaps overshadowed by news on Monday of Korea’s KeSPA being withdrawn from the Esports Nation’s Cup, an event also organized by the Esports Foundation.

The Esports World Cup is set to run from July 6 until Aug. 23.

Featured Image Credit: Cloud9 via LinkedIn