New Dota 2 Patch Redefines Game Duration
The latest update to Dota 2, version 7.23, has made significant changes to the game’s metagame. One of the most notable changes is that it has become easier for teams to take control of the game early on and maintain that control until the end. In fact, according to datdota, more than 40% of all games now end before the 30-minute mark.
Shorter Matches Becoming the Norm
In a sample of 231 matches, which primarily consisted of qualifying matches for the DreamLeague Season 13 Major, the average match duration in patch 7.23 is 33 minutes. This is a decrease from the 37-minute average in the previous patch, 7.22. Valve is clearly aiming for matches to stay under the 40-minute mark.
Out of the 231 matches analyzed, approximately 103 of them ended at or before the 30-minute mark. However, it’s important to note that these numbers may be slightly skewed due to the open qualifiers for the Dota Pro Circuit, which are single-elimination rounds. As the competition progresses to the closed qualifiers, where the more experienced teams face off against each other, match durations are expected to increase.
Variation in Match Durations
Currently, there have been only eight matches that lasted 60 minutes or longer, with the majority of them occurring in the last two days. This indicates a gradual shift in match durations. The longest match recorded in the current patch lasted 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 27 seconds, while the shortest match was just 13 minutes long.
As we approach the two-week mark of the patch’s release, it remains to be seen how the data will settle once the period and Major qualifiers are over.
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Dota 2, patch 7.23, match durations, metagame, game control, early stages, DreamLeague Season 13 Major qualifiers