Dota 2’s The International 2023: CIS Region Dominates Viewership, China’s Resurgence, and Impact on Player Base

The International 2023, Dota 2’s premier event, is nearing its conclusion as the remaining eight teams battle for the Aegis of Champions. Despite the absence of a battle pass, fans are flocking back to the game, and the event’s impact is becoming evident.

Viewership statistics from Esports Charts reveal that the CIS region continues to dominate, with the Team Spirit versus Virtus.pro match attracting the highest number of concurrent viewers. Over 954,097 fans tuned in to witness Spirit secure a top-six spot over their regional rivals. Although Chinese viewership is not included in these numbers, the impressive performance of Chinese teams at TI will undoubtedly generate further interest as LGD Gaming and Azure Ray face off, guaranteeing a Chinese team in the top three.

The live event in Seattle has received positive reception, with attendees expressing satisfaction with the conditions, a significant contrast to the mixed reviews of last year’s TI in Singapore. One attendee described their experience as “overjoyed.”

However, the true impact of TI lies in its effect on the player base. Following TI 2022, there was a substantial increase in active players, with concurrent player peaks surpassing one million in October 2022, according to Steam Charts. The average viewer count also reached over 500,000 shortly after TI 2022 but gradually declined to the low-400,000s throughout 2023. The upcoming playoffs of TI 2023 will be closely watched to determine whether the absence of a battle pass this year will affect total player counts.

While it is unlikely that TI 2023 will break any records in terms of viewership or attendance, it is evident that Dota’s dedicated fanbase remains committed to the game despite concerns about the meta and the prize pool.

The International will resume on Friday, October 27, with Nouns, Gaimin Gladiators, BetBoom, and VP competing in the first elimination matches at midday CT.