As TI13 approaches, the anticipation for Dota 2’s biggest event is growing, despite the lack of big announcements regarding the prize pool. The teams have been confirmed, the venue is set, but a lingering question remains: how will the prize pool of TI13 compare to the previous years?
While the Battle Pass is usually packed with numerous skins, the Compendium alone with its Player Cards and Team Support Bundles has not stirred the community up as expected. Last year, Valve began to change the direction from cosmetic changes to gameplay updates, but this decision has led to doubts about whether TI13’s prize pool will reach a new low or maybe a new high.
The Current State of TI13’s Prize Pool
Currently, the total prize pool of TI13 is $2,597,329 and it is expected to increase as more people buy the Compendium. Although the community expects it to reach $3,000,000+, there are no expectations of matching the prize pools of previous Internationals, especially with no traditional Battle Pass.
The Rise and Fall of The International’s Prize Pool
For many years, Dota 2’s International was all about record-setting prize pools, reaching their pinnacle at TI10 at $40,000,000. However, in the years that followed, the numbers have been on a constant decline. Here’s a snapshot of The International’s prize pool history:
- TI1: $1.6 million
- TI2: $1.6 million
- TI3: $2.8 million
- TI4: $10.9 million
- TI5: $18.4 million
- TI6: $20.7 million
- TI7: $24.7 million
- TI8: $25.5 million
- TI9: $34.3 million
- TI10: $40 million
- TI11: $19 million
- TI12: $3.3 million
- TI13: Estimated at $3 million
It seems that Valve is trying to move away from cosmetic-based content and instead target players for the long term. Gameplay changes, like the highly acclaimed Crownfall 2024 and patch 7.36, have maintained the interest in the game without relying on the cosmetics that are usually offered in the Battle Pass. However, if these items are not included, the prize pool, of course, faces difficulties.
What Is the Source of TI13’s Prize Money?
Despite the fact that the pool is no longer replenished by the Battle Pass, TI13’s prize money is still crowdfunded, mainly through the Compendium 2024. The Compendium has Team Support Bundles and Player Cards, but it does not have the premium skins that would usually make people spend more.
The community has long boasted about participating in record-breaking prize pools, but without the Battle Pass, it is impossible to contribute at the same level. The skins in the Crownfall 2024 Collector’s Cache, which is likely to be more popular than the Compendium, may also affect the prize pool. Valve, however, gets 75% of the Compendium sales, meaning only 25% is allocated for the prize pool. This structure has raised questions on whether Valve should consider increasing the distribution to boost the prize pool.
Shifting Focus: Is Valve Making the Right Move?
Valve has struggled to sustain the Dota 2 player base, even though they have been able to garner huge amounts of money in previous years. They’ve pointed out that most players do not purchase the Battle Pass, meaning that while the top players and teams are reaping the rewards, the rest of the community is left out of these massive updates.
The issue here is the decreasing number of players, even though the game’s mechanics are constantly evolving. Hero changes and new abilities were introduced in patch 7.36, and while the gameplay remains engaging, focusing on a single giant event like The International is not sustainable, especially when the rest of the esports industry is struggling.
The Problem with TI’s Huge Prize Pools
At its best, TI10 had a prize pool of $40 million, which could have easily supported several other Dota 2 leagues. That amount of money could fund 18 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) tours at $2.18 million each or host 80 major events with $500,000 prize pools. With Valve’s decision to cancel the DPC and their official Majors, that kind of funding could have breathed new life into competitive Dota on a regional level, supporting smaller scenes in Europe, CIS, SEA, China, and the Americas.
Dota 2’s Prize Pools Compared to Other Esports
In this regard, Dota 2’s prize pool model appears somewhat anachronistic when compared to other esports. For example, League of Legends. The 2022 League of Legends World Championship attracted more than 100 million players, but the prize pool was only $2.25 million. The prize pool of TI10 Dota 2 was 18 times larger, despite the game having significantly fewer players.
Although such large prize pools can retain the interest of top players and teams, the middle-tier competitive scene is struggling to do the same, and this is becoming an issue.
The Need for a Sustainable Strategy
What can be stated is that Dota 2’s esports landscape cannot be supported by a single gargantuan tournament. As much as The International captures the attention of viewers and brings the drama, the core of the scene is eroding without consistent backing for lower-tier events. Valve’s decision to step back from the DPC could open the door for third-party organizers to step in, as seen in 2024 with DreamLeague, ESL One Birmingham, and BetBoom Dacha, all of which had large prize pools.
The next event on the list is the Riyadh Masters with a $5,000,000 prize pool, which is another example of this change.
The key to keeping Dota 2 esports thriving will be in developing regional tournaments with large prize pools and creating a clear progression to the international scene for new teams. Rather than focusing all the money and attention on a few select teams, a more open approach could bring in new talent and energize the scene.
Final Thoughts: The Advantages and Disadvantages
It is impossible to deny that The International’s prize pools are a great advantage. They maintain the competitive nature of the scene, draw attention, and ensure the best teams are adequately rewarded. However, in the long run, this strategy may not be very beneficial as it could lead to more harm than good. Valve’s decision to allow third-party organizers to take charge and decentralize the competitive scene is a good move.
To guarantee Dota 2 esports’ health in the future, the focus must be placed on developing a more extensive competitive environment. TI may always be the crown jewel, but it needs a solid foundation to build on, and that foundation is the Dota 2 community.
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