Dota 2 fans were left disappointed with the release of the 2023 Compendium, which lacked skins and failed to meet expectations. Popular streamer Gorgc highlighted the concerning state of TI12’s prize pool during a livestream, preparing players for a harsh reality.
A Reddit thread estimated that TI12’s prize pool would reach $5 million, but Gorgc deemed this highly optimistic based on the current sales trend. The graph showed that the prize pool was already stagnating, and with only two weeks left until TI12, it is projected to be at a mere $3 million, similar to the levels seen in 2013.
The limited time for fundraising, coupled with the lack of substantial content in the 2023 Compendium, contributed to the disappointing sales. Valve’s promise of gameplay updates as a replacement for the battle pass did not sit well with Dota 2 players, leading to a negative impact on sales.
This sentiment was reflected in the spending habits of dedicated players. In previous years, a player claiming to be a Saudi Prince spent over $6,000 on The International 2020 Battle Pass, but in 2023, the same player has only invested $200 in Compendium levels.
Source: DOTESPORTS