Sideshop returns to TI10 Battle Pass just 2 days after removal

Fans can’t make up their mind on whether they like Sideshop, and neither can Valve.

Yet another Dota 2 update has shipped, this time restoring the Dota Auto Chess-themed mini-game to the The International 10 Battle Pass. This comes just two days after Sideshop was removed from the game’s front-facing UI and hidden within the game’s console.

The quick reversal from Valve comes after widespread backlash from Dota 2 fans over its removal. Valve removed Sideshop on June 4, a move that led to significant fan outcry as players were frustrated over potentially losing progress towards rewards they had already earned. This came after fans had griped over the Sideshop taking over the recycling system, which was viewed as part of a larger effort by Valve to make it more difficult for fans to earn rewards without spending money.

Fans can now choose to recycle Immortal Treasure skins for Sideshop gold, or use the 2019 method where they recycle skins towards a new Immortal Treasure container.

Because a number of players scrambled to redeem whatever rewards they had earned in the game after the announcements of it, Valve will allow players to keep the rewards they earned while also refunding spent gems.

“We recognize that some players may have already spent their gold and consumed their gems since our update Thursday. We will be restoring everyone's gold to the value it was before the update. We will also restore any spent gems since then. Any items redeemed through the store will still remain in player's inventories,” Valve said on Dota 2’s Steam page.

Valve seems to be confused with its TI10 Battle Pass

Valve’s flip-flopping on Sideshop seems to be part of a larger problem with the TI10 Battle Pass. Though the company released the feature three weeks later than it traditionally does, things still seem to be rushed on Valve’s part. This has resulted in numerous updates to the TI10 Battle Pass within its first two weeks of existence, with the other significant change being a major rework of BP rewards.

Valve’s decisions seem to largely be based on snap reactions from fan communities such as Reddit. The Sideshop initially received pushback as fans struggled to wrap their head round the game and were faced with the choice of prioritizing red gems for levels or blue gems for extra Immortal Treasures.

Though Sideshop is a unique addition to the TI10 Battle Pass, Valve’s willingness to remove it at the behest of social media outcry is unusual and raises questions about Valve's plans for the future.