Valve can learn how to proactively support the Dota 2 ecosystem and not renege on their futile attempts of getting away from holding events.
Gamers Galaxy announced their first ever Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai to be held between March 2 - 6, 2022. The event will host ten teams from different continents, under one roof, featuring a prize pool of AED 1,000,000 (~$270,000).
The exciting part: the tournament will be held on LAN albeit behind closed doors at Dubai Studio City, UAE.
Exciting, right?
LAN setting, teams from different regions, massive prize pool, intense competition – what more could one ask for?
After all, the Worlds did it.
Valorant Champions did it.
The Winter Dota 2 Major did .. oh wait. They cancelled it, nowhere out of the blue. It was just wishful thinking.
Gamers Galaxy: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 are doing it.
Finally, a LAN event after The International 10, on the new 7.31 patch – a prelude to the ESL One Stockholm Dota Major.
Why can’t Valve hold LAN events
The big question, however, still remains. Why can’t Valve hold LAN events? Frankly speaking, they just don’t care.
Esports hasn’t been on top of Valve’s priority list as it does not generate as much revenue as selling hats and other games do.
As a company, their business is literally selling games.
But they do have a responsibility towards the community of the two of the biggest esports games in the world; CS:GO and Dota 2.
Valve needs to get off their high horse and put some meaningful efforts towards two of their most popular esports titles.
They don’t have a valid reason since they sell tens of thousands of stickers, cases, hats and other in-game cosmetics besides keeping 75% of the revenue from compendium sales for themselves.
Nevertheless, we are seeing the first LAN event after the regionals and on the new patch, hosted in the very heart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dubai.
Valve should give the community what it wants
While we are all aware of UAE dipping their toes into the esports world by making various acquisitions, one cannot deny their attempt at filling the empty void in the hearts of Dota 2 fans – lack of cross regional tournaments.
Granted that it’s Dubai and organising events there would be less harsh as compared to other places, but should that discourage Valve or give them a reason to just call off everything at a moment’s notice?
No.
Valve should learn to stick to their guns, and carry through their plans rather than just abruptly cancelling it or going incommunicado. They should strive a bit harder to establish meaningful communication with the community and not neglect them.
Valve should take into account all the feelings and emotions of esports fans and treat them with respect and care.
They should be relentless in giving the community what it wants – after all, they are earning a plethora of money through that same community.
Valve should learn from a newcomer, in this case, Gamers Galaxy, and strive to be the patriarch they were always meant to be.
Be the leader, rather than the silent spectator.
If you are a Dota 2 fan, you can watch the matches of the team you support and place bets here on Luckbox.
