Since its release in 2013, Dota 2 has captured the hearts of fans with its strategic depth and lively gameplay. The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game also established itself as a defining title in the genre with an ever-growing player base. But is it possible that Dota 2’s popularity could be waning?
In this guide, we’ll answer this burning question while analyzing its player base, updates, hero pool, and esports scene. We’ll also review its Twitch viewership statistics to get a clear idea of its ongoing popularity and relevance.
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Is Dota 2 Dying?
Is Dota 2 A Dead Game?
No, Dota 2 is not a dead game—and it’s not dying, either! The game maintains a vibrant player base and an active esports scene, thanks to regular updates from Valve. It also stands as the world’s leading MOBA game by cumulative tournament prize pool, totaling over $364 million, which even surpasses League of Legends.
Player Base
According to Steam Charts, Dota 2 recorded a peak player count of around 800,000 from Nov. 9 to Dec. 10, 2024. This statistic reflects a +4% annualized growth in the number of players from last year, suggesting a steady influx of new players.
On average, there are 450,000 active players in Dota 2 at any given moment. It’s an impressive number considering the game was released more than a decade ago! Plus, the Dota 2 player count often spikes during a big esports event (more on that later) or when a major patch is released.
Curious about Dota 2’s player stats? Check out our detailed breakdown in the Dota 2 Player Count blog!
The Power Of The Patch
In 2024, Valve released 11 patches for Dota 2. In addition to general gameplay adjustments and balance changes, these updates introduced new features like the Innate Abilities and Facets system, the Dota Labs experimental tools suite, and even limited-time seasonal events like Crownfall.
Although updates are less frequent, Valve has shifted its focus to larger, more impactful patches. These address player feedback and enforce ban waves targeting smurfs, bots, and cheaters, improving the overall experience when playing Dota 2 and fostering more balanced (and enjoyable) matchmaking.
Here’s a look at the patches from the past five years:
| Year | Patch Version |
| 2024 | 7.37e, 7.37d, 7.37c, 7.37b, 7.37, 7.36c, 7.36b, 7.36a, 7.36, 7.35d, 7.35c |
| 2023 | 7.35b, 7.35, 7.34e, 7.34d, 7.34c, 7.34b, 7.34, 7.33d, 7.33c, 7.33b, 7.33, 7.32e |
| 2022 | 7.32d, 7.32c, 7.32b, 7.32, 7.31d, 7.31c, 7.31b, 7.31 |
| 2021 | 7.30e, 7.30d, 7.30c, 7.30b, 7.30 |
| 2020 | 7.28a, 7.28, 7.27d, 7.27c, 7.27b, 7.27a, 7.27, 7.26c, 7.26b, 7.26a, 7.26, 7.25c, 7.25b, 7.25a, 7.25, 7.24b, 7.24 |
Note: Major Dota 2 patches are highlighted in bold.
New Heroes
Another reason Dota 2 is not dying is the introduction of new heroes. After porting all the heroes from DotA Allstars (ending with Underlord), Valve has continually added original characters. These include Muerta, Primal Beast, Ringmaster, and Kez, among others, each with unique abilities and mechanics.
Naturally, these hero innovations have sparked huge shifts in the meta by introducing new strategies for players to exploit in their matches. They often also change the fundamental mechanics of the game itself.
For example, Pangolier brought vector-targeted abilities to Dota 2 with his Swashbuckle ability, which allows players to change the direction of his attacks. Similarly, Kez introduced a new weapon-switching mechanic that gives him different attack capabilities and abilities based on the weapon equipped.
Here’s a list of all the new heroes added to Dota 2 (excluding the Warcraft III ports):
- Monkey King
- Dark Willow
- Pangolier
- Grimstroke
- Mars
- Snapfire
- Void Spirit
- Hoodwink
- Dawnbreaker
- Marci
- Primal Beast
- Muerta
- Ringmaster
- Kez
Want to know more? Check out our complete list of Dota 2 heroes!
Does Dota 2 Have An Active Esports Scene?
Yes! In September 2023, Valve ended its only official league, the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC), citing that the DPC was a “stranglehold on the event calendar.” In doing so, it promoted a more open competitive circuit, leading to the rise of many independent tournaments and creative formats.
These include major events like DreamLeague, ESL One, Elite League, and the Riyadh Masters. And then there’s The International, which hosts top-tier players and teams. In 2024 alone, the esports scene awarded $22.1 million in prize money across 155 tournaments, a testament to Dota 2’s bustling community!
The International
Historically, The International has relied on the Battle Pass (discontinued in 2023) and Compendium to generate record-breaking prize pools, such as the $40 million raised in 2021. While the tournament hasn’t replicated this in recent years, it still draws millions of spectators and players to the game.
Only 25% of Battle Pass sales contribute to The International prize pool, with the remaining 75% going directly to Valve. This underscores the grand scale of money generated by Dota 2, with Valve’s earnings likely far exceeding the prize pools of the tournaments themselves.
Even in the absence of official data, these figures show that Dota 2 is far from dead, highlighting a profitable ecosystem and deeply engaging gameplay for fans.
Is Dota 2 Still Popular On Twitch?
Absolutely! As of December 2024, Dota 2 ranks as the 12th most-watched game on Twitch, averaging roughly 60,000 viewers monthly. At its peak, the game attracted 1.5 million viewers and 164,500 average viewers during The International 2024 grand final between Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators.
Dota 2 has also maintained a stable viewership over the years, but that’s not surprising to longtime fans (like us). Similar to Counter-Strike, Dota 2 benefits from an incredibly supportive ecosystem having left a huge cultural imprint on the gaming community. It’s only natural for gamers to want to keep it alive.
Here’s an overview of Dota 2’s viewership stats on Twitch:
- Hours watched: 35,298,967
- Hours broadcast: 782,048
- Average viewers: 49,026
- Max viewers: 212,346
Note: Statistics via Sully Gnome (11/9/24-12/10/24).
So, Is Dota 2 Dying? Hardly!
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Dota 2’s death have been greatly exaggerated. The game is still thriving more than 11 years later, and it remains the preferred MOBA for so many fans of the genre. Not to mention the incredible esports scene that continues to draw top talent, massive crowds, and impressive prize pools throughout the year.
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