Xantares returns to streaming on Twitch after 4-year ban

Luke Warr Published June 4, 2025

Counter-Strike 2 pro player İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş is finally back after a Twitch ban that lasted for four long years, and his fans are wondering if he’ll now return to streaming.

XANTARES is one of the rare players in CS2 history whose name sparked an entire trend. Known for the iconic “XANTARES peek,” a lightning-fast, wide-strafe headshot technique, he’s become a mechanical benchmark for riflers across the game’s global scene. Beyond his in-game reputation, XANTARES has built a massive following on Twitch and social media. So when he was banned in 2021, fans were left with many questions.

Now, almost four years, the pro player has been unbanned on Twitch has announced what he plans to do next.

Will XANTARES stream on Twitch?

Yes, XANTARES plans on returning to stream on Twitch, referring to his unban as a “return of a legacy.” He hasn’t revealed the exact date yet for his streaming return, but his words imply that it’s not far off.

“Although it was a tough journey, I’ve grown a lot throughout the process. I’m incredibly grateful to be back on Twitch and excited for what lies ahead!” XANTARES said.

According to the pro player, he had been trying to get unbanned for years with no success. This time, however, he had the support of Aurora Gaming, the esports organization he currently plays for. It’s been nearly four years since XANTARES last streamed on Twitch, which makes his return all the more significant for both him and his fans.

Why was XANTARES banned on Twitch?

XANTARES was banned from Twitch in 2021 for community violations. The exact nature of said violation was never made known by either XANTARES or Twitch, leading to much speculation.

XANTARES was banned from Twitch in 2021 for reasons that were never publicly disclosed. He claimed that he didn’t know the exact cause, joking that he “must have deserved it.” While the first ban from Twitch for XANTARES was rumored to involve a heated in-game exchange, the nature of his second ban remained a mystery. XANTARES later confirmed it was a permanent ban, implying a serious breach of Twitch terms, though the exact details remained under wraps.

Despite the nearly four-year ban, XANTARES is now back on his original Twitch account, which still holds a loyal following of over 80,000 fans. Before the ban, his streams peaked at tens of thousands of viewers. It remains to be seen whether his prolonged absence has cooled his streaming presence or if as many fans would still tune in now to watch him play CS2.