On November 20, the first season of the brand-new Astralis documentary, Behind the Stars, premiered on the official Astralis YouTube channel. Four episodes offer a raw and in-depth look behind the scenes of our esports organization and Counter-Strike main team. The video material, gathered from January to August, provides an exclusive glimpse into the eventful journey of highs and lows during the spring and summer of 2023.

This new documentary explores how professional esports athletes such as the legendary team captain Lukas "gla1ve" Rossander, the superstar AWPer Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz, the new, aspiring in-game leader Benjamin 'blameF' Bremer, and, of course, the clutch minister, Andreas "Xyp9x" Højsleth, cope with the immense pressure of being part of one of the world's most renowned Counter-Strike brands.

Xyp9x: When we fail the qualification for the Major in Paris, when you wish for it and want it as much as I do, and it doesn't succeed, it hits you hard, with a lot of frustrations and a cruel, empty feeling in your stomach.

Xyp9x: Impressed with the Final Result

In the first two episodes, we follow the four-time major winner and experienced rifler, Xyp9x, as he struggles to find his former level on the server, risking being substituted with a younger talent if he doesn't improve his game. We spoke with Xyp9x, who, for the first time, shared his thoughts about participating in the documentary.

He reflects on the challenges of constantly being followed by a cameraman during a crucial moment for the main squad and his career.

"I have been in this game for a long time, and having to be followed around 24/7 by a camera right up in your face is nothing new for me either, as both gla1ve and dev1ce have stated, too. For me, it's all about trusting the person filming, knowing that he understands my boundaries and how far he can go, especially when we as a team have to perform with a lot at stake. Having that conversation before kicking off a documentary like this is essential; otherwise, dealing with a camera right before a match becomes annoying," says Xyp9x.

What was the most challenging part then?

"It's tough to open up, especially when the results don't go our way. You stand there with a lot of frustration after a lost match. Sometimes, you say things just after in frustration, which you later regret. In high-intensity situations like that, you, as a teammate, must remember and think about what you're saying. You must be careful not to say confidential things that could disrupt the team's synergy and dynamics. You also have to consider whether you want to open up and give your opponents an insight into your team's issues so they can spot weak spots. Therefore, you have to make many reflections when you are asked to open up on camera."

The hardest part of facing while filming?

"When we fail the qualification for the Major in Paris, when you wish for it and want it as much as I do, and it doesn't succeed, it hits you hard, with a lot of frustrations and a cruel, empty feeling in your stomach. And even for me, who is quite good at containing my temper, it was tough not to explode at that unfortunate moment," the clutch minister notes.

Still, Xyp9x is impressed with the outcome of the Behind The Stars documentary, as it provides "excellent insights" into the lives of professional Counter-Strike gamers.

"I hope that when people and fans watch this documentary, it offers a strong insight into the feelings at stake for a professional gamer. And that it reveals there are many more aspects and facets to the life of a CS gamer than just checking in on the server to play," Xyp9x states.