Astralis Salary Crisis with December Paychecks Delayed by Two Weeks
Danish esports giant Astralis is facing a severe financial crunch, with CEO Jonas Gundersen confirming that December salaries for players and staff due on December 1 have been postponed by 14 days. The delay stems from complications during an ongoing ownership transition, but Gundersen assured payments will arrive by mid December, accompanied by a 10% compensation bonus.
The revelation, reported by Ekstra Bladet and corroborated across outlets, hits at the worst possible moment, Astralis is battling for survival in the Budapest Major qualifiers, where they recently suffered a heartbreaking elimination against Team Liquid.
CEO Addresses the Turmoil
In a statement, Gundersen acknowledged the oversight”We failed to pay our December 1 salaries… tied to ownership-change issues. “He emphasized transparency and swift resolution, promising the bonus to mitigate hardship. This follows Astralis’ broader financial struggles, including a dismal 2024 where Counter Strike struggles exacerbated losses.
.@AstralisCS CEO says players haven’t been paid their salarieshttps://t.co/O0cSUOZSXM
— Dust2.us (@dust2us) December 1, 2025
Perfect Storm at Budapest Major
Hours before a pivotal Major decider, the news broke yet Astralis pushed through, clinching dramatic moments like a 3v5 retake against Aurora before Liquid ended their run. Community reactions on X range from sympathy (“No Paycheck and no Major”) to memes tying performance dips to the delay. Astralis, once CS kings with stars like dupreeh earning €30k/month in their golden era, now navigates sale rumors and roster pressures.
Since: October 29, 2025
