Virtus Pro Reveals Chinese Rebranding for Dota 2’s TI9
Russian Dota 2 team Virtus Pro has unveiled a new visual branding exclusively for the upcoming International 9 tournament in China. The team collaborated with Russian design agency Quberten Design to create a distinct Chinese rebranding strategy, which is showcased on their official website.
The rebranding includes various design changes. Virtus Pro has replaced its vintage orange with red, a color considered auspicious in Chinese culture. Additionally, the team has embraced the Chinese Dota 2 community’s tradition of giving Western players Mandarin nicknames. These nicknames, along with the players’ IGNs, are now featured prominently in Virtus Pro’s branding.
The team’s new logo incorporates “Wei Pi,” the Chinese nickname for Virtus Pro, which translates to “mighty strike.” This nickname refers to the team’s aggressive playstyle and is a nod to their blitzkrieg strategy.
Roman Dvoryankin, VP’s general manager, expressed excitement about the Chinese rebranding and emphasized the strategic importance of the Chinese market for the organization. He mentioned that the rebranding is a way of showing respect for local traditions.
It’s not the first time Virtus Pro has rebranded for The International. Last year, they partnered with Megafon and changed their colors to green and purple. However, this Chinese design switch is exclusive to TI9.
As the International 9 approaches, Virtus Pro will enter the tournament with new jerseys and high expectations. The event kicks off on August 15th, and fans are eager to see if Virtus Pro can live up to their status as favorites or if they’ll falter before reaching the top four once again.
Virtus Pro, Dota 2, TI9, Chinese rebranding, International 9 tournament, visual branding, aggressive playstyle