Valve recently announced major changes to the Dota 2 competitive scene. Instead of having major tournaments, Valve will now collaborate with third-party organizers to award “Major” or “Minor” status to qualifying tournaments. These changes aim to address issues such as the decline of third-party tournaments and the negative impact of Majors on Dota 2’s professional scene.
Many Dota 2 players have welcomed these changes as a positive step forward. To understand how these changes will affect organizations interested in Dota 2, interviewed Noah Whinston, CEO of Immortals, a venture-capital backed esports organization.
Whinston believes that the new Dota 2 ecosystem has the potential to be beneficial, but it will ultimately depend on how well it is implemented. He sees the changes as more neutral to the teams themselves, and the success of the system will depend on its impact on game growth, viewership, and fan engagement.
Whinston points out that the current Dota 2 ecosystem has struggled with consistent engagement throughout the year, which is something that Valve can learn from the Counter-Strike ecosystem. He raises concerns about how many tournaments will be designated as majors or minors and how this will impact prize pools, viewership, and sustainability for pro teams.
Whinston believes that the new system could benefit tier two players in Dota 2 by providing a more consistent curve of performance over the year. He also sees opportunities for third-party organizers to build consistent narratives and engage viewers. Whinston suggests that Immortals might consider running their own Dota 2 event to further support the community.
Whinston acknowledges that the new system does not address the lack of shoulder content in Dota 2 compared to other major esports. However, he believes that it helps with roster instability issues due to the roster lock period.
Whinston acknowledges the potential conflict of interest if Immortals becomes involved in tournaments. However, he believes that the regulating force of Valve can prevent biased tournament qualification systems. He sees conflicts of interest as something that will always exist and that Valve’s involvement is a good start.
Whinston suggests that while the new system may not make it easier to enter Dota 2, it makes it more attractive. Immortals is interested in getting involved and hopes to find good opportunities in the future.
Whinston believes that the new system can provide a stable structure with consistent fan engagement. He also highlights the importance of addressing player mentality and the warping force of The International tournament.
Dota 2, Valve, changes, competitive scene, third-party organizers, Major, Minor, tournaments, implementation, growth, viewership, engagement, pro teams, sustainability, tier two players, conflict of interest, Immortals, roster instability, fan engagement, player mentality, The International tournament