The International 2024: A Call for Improvement

The International, often hailed as the “biggest esports event of the year,” is a celebration of Dota 2, showcasing the highest level of play in the game. However, this year’s event felt somewhat lackluster. Here, we discuss some changes that could return it to its former glory.

Balancing Patches

The frequency and size of updates over the past couple of years have been impressive. Introducing new facets and increasing map size made the game more interesting to play at all levels. However, this led to balance issues. To address this, Valve should methodically balance patches starting well before TI. While striving for a “perfect” patch is impossible, aiming for high hero and strategy diversity is achievable. This year, roughly 17% of heroes were ignored, with multiple heroes having 90%+ contest rates.

Balancing for Regular Players

Valve’s approach to catering to regular players is welcome, but it doesn’t necessarily make the game better for players. Perhaps a TI-specific patch released very close to the tournament start could be a solution. Professional players are quick to adapt, and flexibility is crucial in Dota. Focusing on flexibility and adaptation rather than executing the best strategy could result in a unique and interesting TI.

Group Stage Format

The Group Stage this year was similar to the previous year’s, with fewer teams. This made the Group Stage low-stakes and less fun to watch. In previous years, with only two groups, seeding was the main focus, making the games exciting. This year, with four groups of four, the format felt like busywork: games played for the sake of games being played.

Grand Finals

The Grand Finals deserve their own day. While this would eliminate the upper bracket advantage and extend the tournament, it’s a compromise worth considering. The last excellent TI Grand Finals series was in 2021. Coming into a BO5 potentially exhausted after the lower bracket finals is not good for Dota as a spectator sport. We want our athletes fresh and at their best, not fatigued.

Prize Pool

The prize pool is often considered an elephant in the room, but we believe it’s not what matters to TI. While it might motivate some players, it doesn’t significantly influence the level of play. The International is a festival of Dota, where history is made, champions are crowned, and the community comes together to enjoy competitive play. The prize pool affects viewership numbers but doesn’t enhance the experience of seeing incredible plays and strategies.

For us as Dota players, it’s about making the Biggest Esports Event of the Year more interesting and entertaining. By addressing these issues, we can ensure a more engaging and competitive TI in the future.