Valve’s decision to discontinue the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) has left the Dota community unsure of what the future holds. Fans have expressed a mix of skepticism and hope for what comes next.
In a recent blog post, Valve acknowledged that while the DPC brought transparency to invitation criteria for The International, it also limited the creativity and diversity of competitive Dota 2. The company did not provide a concrete replacement for the DPC, but speculation suggests that the ESL Pro Circuit could step in.
Before the DPC, Dota 2 thrived on a vibrant ecosystem of independent tournaments. With its demise, the game may return to its roots, but some community figures, like Murielle “Kips” Huisman, are not fully convinced.
The blog post portrayed the DPC as a roadblock to more high-profile Dota 2 tournaments. While it’s true that the game had more appealing events in the past, Valve’s increased involvement was also a factor. According to Kips, Valve would need to return to supporting the community and the scene for any successor to flourish.
Team Secret’s Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, who has been competing in Dota 2 since its early days, criticized the prolonged league format of the DPC as “pointless.” He preferred the era of the five-Major system, which allowed for deeper immersion in the game.
If Valve were to bring back a system resembling the mid-2010s Dota 2 scene, fans would also like to see the return of crowdfunding for independent tournaments. This model not only boosted prize pools but also supported unique events that introduced in-game content to fans.
However, if Valve continues with its current approach, the absence of a centralized league could lead to scheduling chaos and a lack of stability, potentially harming the professional scene. This concern arose when Valve burned bridges in 2022, causing Beyond the Summit to not return as an organizer for the next Dota Pro Circuit.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
