Dota 2 esports: The Most Profitable Game
Dota 2 Esports is the most profitable game in the scene, despite having fewer players than rivals like CS:GO. The Valve multiplayer game is driven by Valve’s own investment in the esports scene and the dedication of its player base, rather than the number of players it has.
Despite being one of the most played games in the world, Dota 2 is a long way behind rivals like League of Legends and CS:GO in terms of player base. So why does it make more money than both of these games despite having less players?
A large part of Dota 2’s competitive scene is owed to Valve’s own investment. The Dota 2 developer is constantly pushing the boundaries of esports, and it’s not afraid to spend money to ensure it continues to grow. The International prize pool is only a quarter of the money Valve gathers from sponsoring the event, with the rest going back into supporting the competitive scene.
Valve has also been praised for being incredibly generous when it comes to esports prize pools. The company has been open about the high costs of esports, and it has taken steps to ensure that money goes back to the players. Many companies in esports complain about the costs but ultimately keep the prize pool the same year after year. In the case of Valve, it’s happy to spend the money on the players.
The player base also contributes significantly to the Dota 2 esports scene, primarily through purchasing cosmetics. Dota 2’s battle pass is widely regarded as one of the most generous in any game, with Valve handing out numerous rewards for even the smallest of purchases. Newcomers to the game are often drawn to the spectacle of The International, and many subsequently decide to give the game a try themselves.
The Dota 2 International prize pool for 2020 was around $40 million, with the winner receiving 50% of that amount. While this may seem like a lot, it’s actually a significant decrease from previous Internationals, which were traditionally around $10 million higher.
Many users on r/DotA2 were taken aback by the news, with some arguing that CS:GO makes significantly less money despite streamers spending significantly more on CS:GO cases during their streams. “CS:GO is also much more profitable,” one user replies, “because Valve has a bigger cut.”
Others attribute Dota 2’s profitability to the age of the game and the fact that it receives considerable sponsorships. “Dota 2 is the most profitable esport because it’s the biggest esport and it’s been around for ten years,” one user replies. “It was already a big esport when CS:GO was just a glimmer in the eyes of its creators.”
Dota 2 has its roots in a mod for Warcraft 3, with its predecessor being Aeon of Strife. Dota is the game that really brought the genre into the mainstream, and it inspired a whole host of other companies to create similar games.
Dota 2 may not be as accessible as other games, but its unique mechanics and competitive scene continue to drive its success. Check out our Dota 2 tier list if you’re looking to get more out of your games, or perhaps try one of the best Dota 2 alternatives if you’re finding the game a little too challenging.
