Win.gg
Dota 2
Dota 2 player count plunges after months of improvement Dota 2 player count plunges after months of improvement
Dota 2 has had a very strong 2021, but almost all the gains the game has made in terms of player counts evaporated in September.
The final numbers for September’s player counts are in and Dota 2’s average player counts dropped about 8% to 391,082 in September according to
Steam Charts. This ends five straight months of average player count gains for Dota 2 and is the lowest tally seen since March 2021.
The 8% decline is the largest month-over-month drop since September 2019. It’s also the fifth-worst month in Dota 2 history since 2014. Dota 2 settled into the third spot on Steam’s most-played games chart, trailing behind perennial top game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and new hit MMORPG New World.
The timing of the decline is also surprising. On September 16, The International 2021 Compendium launched and gave players defined incentives to play, offering a free card pack each day after winning a game of Dota 2. Despite having this extra reason to log in and play some games, players are opting not to fire up Dota 2 at all.
Valve has Dota 2 event, or new battle pass, ready following TI10
The 8% decline in September is a tough blow for Dota 2, and is one of the larger dips the game has sustained in a single month. This is also one of the biggest declines for the game since Valve shifted its development schedule for the game in order to focus on more frequent events that take place throughout the year.
The good news for Valve is that there’s a short-term fix to this already incoming. The company stated
in May
that two in-game events were set to take place instead of the traditional The International Battle Pass. The first turned out to be Nemestice, and the second was promised to come “some time after The International.”
Given that The International 2021 was still slated to take place in August at that point, it’s a fairly safe assumption that this new event will be ready immediately after The International 2021.
What will that new Dota 2 event be? Another battle pass-focused event like Nemestice is definitely possible, as is the return of Diretide given that The International will end on October 17.
It still seems as though Dota 2 is struggling to bring in new players. While regular in-game events can keep the established player base engaged, Valve will need to find a way to add some fresh blood at some point.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title
Michael Hassall
The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions
Michael Hassall
The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks
Owen Harsono
The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions
Owen Harsono
The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...
