What is Dota 2 and why it is loved by millions?

The online gaming world is massive, but few titles are supported and has green light infrastructure like Dota 2. It is the example of a game that not only created a new genre but changed the face of esports as industry. All we can say for sure is that Dota 2 has reached a level only possible through a highly passionate development team as well as community.

What is Dota 2?

Dota 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), in essence it is an RTS pasted together with RPG elements. Players are grouped into 2 teams called the Radiant and Dire which consists of 5 players each.

Every player utilizes a specific character, referred to as a “hero” who has some special traits. The aim that every playerTry to come up with an efficient team and answers to all possible questions you can and cannot predict. There are lot of questions to consider, before making your next move and all of them have answers, yes. One of the goals is deceptively simple, Destroy the other teams 'Ancient' and protect yours at the same time, but we all know how complicated it is. Yet, they are all at the same time what makes every single match different and exciting.

When was Dota 2 released?

Dota 2 can be traced back to the custom map of the game “Warcraft III that was called Defense of the Ancients or DotA. This community created mod became so popular that it spawned a completely new class of games. Understanding its importance Valve who is a prominent game developer and distributor, aimed to make an independent sequel. And with the help of ‘IceFrog’ who was one of the initial fab developers of the DotA mod Dota 2 was created.

The anticipation for Dota 2 began with its first official announcement on October 13 2010. Valve is a well known company and with the hype generated around the game the community was head over heels with excitement by how the game was going to turn out, and how it was a sequel to a beloved game. After being in beta testing for a couple of years, and making sure everything was up to the beta, Dota 2 was released to the world on the 9th of July, 2013. Unmatched expenses came pouring in on the game, having only cemented its know as being the best in the industry.

Who developed Dota 2?

Credit: Valve Corporation

It can be said that the development of Dota 2 was in the hands of the Valve Corporation. The company is quite well-known for its flair in game creation and its attention to the fan base. Valve was established by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington and has been credited for such outstanding projects as “Half-Life” and “Portal” and “Counter-Strike”. With the release of Dota 2, Valve did not only manage to launch an elite video game but also opened opportunities for the audience to make, offer and sell their in-game modifications, which only benefited the Dota 2 community.

Dota 2 page on Steam

Steam, has always been closely associated with Dota 2, but it also serves the purpose of being Valve’s product. Steam only eases the players’ accessibility for the game, updates, forums, and even commodities. The two, Dota 2 and Steam, have and continue to benefit from each other’s growth. Dota 2 Steam, the combination is enjoyed on most occasions: the game continues to be one of the leaders by the number of players and peak counts often reach up to 1.5 million and more.

Is Dota 2 free to play?

Yes, Dota 2 is absolutely free to play. This is a business strategy made by Valve because making the game free also increases its audience. Although the game is free, it features a micro-transaction model that avid gamers can relate to wherein players can purchase non-essential virtual goods.

Conclusion

I would say Dota 2 transcends being just a game it is rather a cultural phenomenon. The tale that it has to offer, the level of strategy that it requires and the huge fanbase is something which is extraordinary and has excited players all over the world. So, if you are an experienced player or a complete novice and are looking to enter the realm of MOBA, Dota 2 will take you on a competitive and exciting ride. Many things shall change, but one thing, for sure, will remain the case – Dota 2’s history has already been written with gold and the prospects are mostly white.