Our annual The Worldwide weblog posts all the time began with TI lauded because the “largest esports occasion of the 12 months”. It was all the time a celebration of Dota, the showcase of the best degree of play within the deepest, most advanced on-line recreation there’s and we consider that that is nonetheless true. Nonetheless, it’s unimaginable to disclaim that this 12 months TI was a bit lacklustre and as we speak we want to talk about some issues that would return it to its former glory.
The frequency and the sheer dimension of updates the final couple of years had been superior. The introduction of aspects and the rise within the map dimension made the sport significantly extra attention-grabbing to play in any respect ranges. It additionally led to some stability points and we really feel like there are two foremost methods to deal with this.
One is to methodically and meticulously stability a patch, beginning a while in the past earlier than a TI. This was the strategy taken beforehand and to a sure extent it was the strategy this 12 months as properly. Making a “good” patch is unimaginable, however striving for it over the course of the 12 months to culminate in a Match with excessive hero and technique range is feasible. This 12 months roughly 17% of heroes had been fully ignored, with a number of heroes having 90%+ contest fee.
The issue with this strategy is that it results in a moderately stale pub meta and no new content material updates. Personally, we consider that balancing across the skilled scene is sweet for the skilled scene, nevertheless it doesn’t essentially make for a greater recreation for us, the gamers. Valve’s strategy the final couple of years, one we absolutely welcome, is to cater in direction of the common gamers, so maybe the sluggish and regular route merely isn’t an possibility.
In that case, perhaps having a TI-specific patch, launched very near the event begin might be an answer. Skilled gamers are the quickest to adapt and being versatile is unquestionably one of many extra necessary abilities in Dota. Let flexibility and adaptation be the principle focus, moderately than the execution of the most effective technique.
We firmly consider {that a} new, Main patch launched every week or so earlier than the event may lead to a really bizarre, however a really attention-grabbing TI, with a conflict of many concepts and playstyles. Would the extent of play be the identical, as when groups get months to arrange? Definitely not. Wouldn’t it be extra entertaining? Probably, and it’s a danger value taking in our opinion.
The Group Stage this 12 months was similar to the Group Stage we had in The Worldwide 2023 with one key distinction — there have been much less groups. In our opinion it made the Group Stage very low stakes and never notably enjoyable to observe.
In years prior, with solely two teams, the seeding was the principle focus and due to it they had been thrilling, whereas additionally permitting for extra video games. Final 12 months, the teams had been thrilling as a result of one of many groups would get eradicated.
This 12 months, we had neither. 4 teams of 4 battling it out for nothing, however an opportunity to pick an opponent for a single BO3 to resolve their seeding is only a bizarre format. It’s not “unfair” by any means and each single victory and loss had been properly deserved. From a spectator facet of expertise, although, it simply felt like busywork: video games performed for the sake of video games being performed.
Given how it’s Dota and it’s undoubtedly a enjoyable recreation to observe, there’s nothing notably fallacious with it, however having Group Stage matter extra is actually one thing we wish to see subsequent 12 months.
Lastly, there’s a query of Grand Finals and it’s been stated earlier than, however we firmly consider that a very powerful sequence of the event deserves its personal day. Sure, it’s going to considerably eradicate the higher bracket benefit and sure, it’s going to prolong the event. Nonetheless, it’s a compromise that ought to be a minimum of thought-about.
Final time we had a wonderful TI Grand Finals sequence was again in 2021 and at this level we’ve to confess that coming right into a BO5 doubtlessly exhausted after the decrease bracket finals is simply not good for Dota as a spectator sport.
We wish our athletes recent and at their greatest, not fatigued. It may nonetheless result in a sweep, it may all nonetheless finish in a boring sequence, however a minimum of we might make certain it’s as a result of one staff is that a lot better, not as a result of one staff simply needed to undergo nearly three hours of intense Dota for an opportunity to play extra Dota.
We intentionally didn’t contact on what many think about to be an elephant within the room — the prize pool. As a result of, if we’re being sincere, we don’t assume it’s what issues to TI. It’s undoubtedly a Match standing factor and perhaps some gamers are higher motivated by greater rewards and perhaps they might be taking part in higher, however we don’t consider it has a serious affect on the extent of play.
The Worldwide is a competition of Dota. It’s when historical past is made, when the champions are topped and when the group comes collectively to benefit from the highest attainable degree of aggressive play. The one factor the prize pool modifications is the comparability to different video games and doubtlessly the viewership numbers from individuals testing what all of the fuss is about.
For us as Dota gamers, although, does it actually matter whether or not there are extra individuals watching? Does having extra viewers improve the precise expertise of seeing what unbelievable performs the most effective gamers on the planet handle to tug off and what loopy methods they attempt to utilise? Personally, I don’t assume so, however I do assume there are methods to make the Largest Esports Occasion of the Yr much more attention-grabbing and entertaining.