<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2013	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena	O
(	O
MOBA	O
)	O
video	O
game	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
(	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
)	O
,	O
a	O
community-created	O
mod	O
for	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reign	I-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
played	O
in	O
matches	O
between	O
two	O
teams	O
of	O
five	O
players	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
team	O
occupying	O
and	O
defending	O
their	O
own	O
separate	O
base	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
began	O
in	O
2009	O
when	O
IceFrog	O
,	O
lead	O
designer	O
of	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
,	O
was	O
hired	O
by	O
Valve	O
to	O
design	O
a	O
modernized	O
remake	O
in	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
game	I-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
via	O
the	O
digital	O
distribution	O
platform	O
Steam	B-Application
in	O
July	O
2013	O
,	O
following	O
a	O
Windows-only	O
open	O
beta	O
phase	O
that	O
began	O
two	O
years	O
prior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
maintain	O
it	O
,	O
Valve	O
supports	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
service	O
,	O
selling	O
loot	O
boxes	O
and	O
a	O
battle	O
pass	O
subscription	O
system	O
called	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Plus	O
that	O
offer	O
non-gameplay	O
altering	O
virtual	B-General_Concept
goods	I-General_Concept
in	O
return	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
hero	O
cosmetics	O
and	O
audio	O
replacement	O
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
engine	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
a	O
large	O
esports	O
scene	O
,	O
with	O
teams	O
from	O
around	O
the	O
world	O
playing	O
in	O
various	O
professional	O
leagues	O
and	O
tournaments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
organizes	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Pro	O
Circuit	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
tournaments	O
that	O
award	O
qualification	O
points	O
for	O
earning	O
direct	O
invitations	O
to	O
The	O
International	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
premier	O
tournament	O
held	O
annually	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Internationals	O
feature	O
a	O
crowdfunded	O
prize	O
money	O
system	O
that	O
has	O
seen	O
amounts	O
in	O
upwards	O
of	O
40	O
million	O
,	O
making	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
most	O
lucrative	O
esport	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
criticism	O
going	O
towards	O
its	O
steep	O
learning	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
and	O
overall	O
complexity	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
rewarding	O
gameplay	O
,	O
production	O
quality	O
,	O
and	O
faithfulness	O
to	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
considering	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
been	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
played	O
games	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
since	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
a	O
million	O
concurrent	O
players	O
at	O
its	O
peak	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
allows	O
for	O
the	O
community	O
to	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
gamemodes	O
,	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
cosmetics	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
uploaded	O
to	O
the	O
Steam	B-Application
Workshop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
spinoff	O
games	O
,	O
Artifact	B-Application
and	O
Dota	B-Application
Underlords	I-Application
,	O
were	O
released	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
been	O
used	O
in	O
machine	O
learning	O
experiments	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
bots	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
OpenAI	B-Operating_System
Five	I-Operating_System
showing	O
the	O
capability	O
to	O
defeat	O
professional	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena	O
(	O
MOBA	O
)	O
video	O
game	O
in	O
which	O
two	O
teams	O
of	O
five	O
players	O
compete	O
to	O
destroy	O
a	O
large	O
structure	O
defended	O
by	O
the	O
opposing	O
team	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Ancient	O
"	O
whilst	O
defending	O
their	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
controlled	O
using	O
standard	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
controls	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
presented	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
map	O
in	O
a	O
three-dimensional	O
isometric	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Activating	O
an	O
ability	O
costs	O
a	O
hero	O
some	O
of	O
their	O
"	O
mana	B-Application
points	I-Application
"	O
,	O
which	O
slowly	O
regenerates	O
over	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
heroes	O
have	O
three	O
attributes	O
:	O
strength	O
,	O
intelligence	O
,	O
and	O
agility	O
,	O
which	O
affect	O
health	O
points	O
,	O
mana	B-Application
points	I-Application
,	O
and	O
attack	O
speed	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
small	O
group	O
of	O
weak	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
creatures	O
called	O
"	O
creeps	B-Protocol
"	O
travel	O
predefined	O
paths	O
along	O
the	O
lanes	O
and	O
attempt	O
to	O
attack	O
any	O
opposing	O
heroes	O
,	O
creeps	B-Protocol
,	O
and	O
buildings	O
in	O
their	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creeps	B-Protocol
periodically	O
spawn	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
groups	O
from	O
two	O
buildings	O
,	O
called	O
the	O
"	O
barracks	O
"	O
,	O
that	O
exist	O
in	O
each	O
lane	O
and	O
are	O
located	O
within	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
bases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
map	O
is	O
permanently	O
covered	O
for	O
both	O
teams	O
in	O
fog	O
of	O
war	O
,	O
which	O
prevents	O
a	O
team	O
from	O
seeing	O
the	O
opposing	O
team	O
's	O
heroes	O
and	O
creeps	B-Protocol
if	O
they	O
are	O
not	O
directly	O
in	O
sight	O
of	O
themselves	O
or	O
an	O
allied	O
unit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Present	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
are	O
"	O
neutral	O
creeps	B-Protocol
"	O
that	O
are	O
hostile	O
to	O
both	O
teams	O
,	O
and	O
reside	O
in	O
marked	O
locations	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
camps	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neutral	O
creeps	B-Protocol
do	O
not	O
attack	O
unless	O
provoked	O
,	O
and	O
respawn	O
over	O
time	O
if	O
killed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
order	O
to	O
obtain	O
an	O
item	O
,	O
players	O
must	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
afford	O
it	O
with	O
gold	O
at	O
shops	O
located	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
primarily	O
obtained	O
by	O
killing	O
enemy	O
heroes	O
,	O
destroying	O
enemy	O
structures	O
,	O
and	O
killing	O
creeps	B-Protocol
,	O
with	O
the	O
latter	O
being	O
an	O
act	O
called	O
"	O
farming	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
features	O
multiple	O
game	O
types	O
which	O
mainly	O
alter	O
the	O
way	O
hero	O
selection	O
is	O
handled	O
;	O
examples	O
include	O
"	O
All	O
Pick	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
offer	O
no	O
restrictions	O
on	O
hero	O
selection	O
,	O
"	O
All	O
Random	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
randomly	O
assigns	O
a	O
hero	O
for	O
each	O
player	O
,	O
"	O
Captain	O
's	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
on	O
each	O
team	O
selects	O
heroes	O
for	O
their	O
entire	O
team	O
and	O
is	O
primarily	O
used	O
for	O
professional	O
play	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Turbo	O
"	O
,	O
an	O
expedited	O
version	O
of	O
All	O
Pick	O
featuring	O
increased	O
gold	O
and	O
experience	O
gain	O
,	O
weaker	O
towers	O
,	O
and	O
faster	O
respawn	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
occasionally	O
features	O
limited-time	O
events	O
that	O
present	O
players	O
with	O
alternative	O
game	O
modes	O
that	O
do	O
not	O
follow	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
standard	O
rules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
these	O
included	O
the	O
Halloween-themed	O
Diretide	O
event	O
,	O
the	O
Christmas-themed	O
Frostivus	O
event	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
New	O
Bloom	O
Festival	O
,	O
which	O
celebrated	O
the	O
coming	O
of	O
spring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
special	O
game	O
modes	O
have	O
been	O
created	O
by	O
Valve	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
ten-versus-ten	O
mode	O
,	O
a	O
Halloween-themed	O
capture	O
point	O
mode	O
"	O
Colosseum	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
combat	O
arena	O
mode	O
"	O
Overthrow	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Siltbreaker	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
story-driven	O
cooperative	O
campaign	O
mode	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
The	O
Underhollow	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
battle	O
royale	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
move	O
to	O
the	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
engine	O
in	O
2015	O
added	O
the	O
"	O
Arcade	O
"	O
feature	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
for	O
community-created	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
more	O
popular	O
ones	O
having	O
dedicated	O
server	O
hosting	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
popular	O
example	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Auto	I-Operating_System
Chess	I-Operating_System
,	O
had	O
over	O
seven	O
million	O
in-game	O
subscribers	O
by	O
April	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
's	O
version	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
Underlords	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2020	O
and	O
continued	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
setting	O
,	O
while	O
Drodo	O
's	O
game	O
,	O
Auto	O
Chess	O
,	O
was	O
developed	O
using	O
no	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
assets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
series	O
began	O
in	O
2003	O
with	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
(	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
)	O
—	O
a	O
mod	O
for	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reign	I-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
—	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
pseudonymous	O
designer	O
"	O
Eul	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expansion	O
pack	O
for	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
;	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
clone	O
mods	O
for	O
the	O
new	O
game	O
competed	O
for	O
popularity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DotA	B-Operating_System
:	O
Allstars	O
by	O
Steve	O
Feak	O
was	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
,	O
and	O
Feak	O
,	O
with	O
his	O
friend	O
Steve	O
Mescon	O
,	O
created	O
the	O
official	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
community	O
website	O
and	O
the	O
holding	O
company	O
DotA-Allstars	O
,	O
LLC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Feak	O
retired	O
from	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
:	O
Allstars	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
a	O
fellow	O
website	O
user	O
under	O
the	O
pseudonym	O
IceFrog	O
,	O
became	O
its	O
lead	O
designer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
late	O
2000s	O
,	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
mods	O
worldwide	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
prominent	O
esports	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IceFrog	O
and	O
Mescon	O
later	O
had	O
a	O
falling	O
out	O
in	O
May	O
2009	O
,	O
which	O
prompted	O
the	O
former	O
to	O
establish	O
a	O
new	O
community	O
website	O
at	O
playdota.com	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
's	O
interest	O
in	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
intellectual	O
property	O
began	O
when	O
several	O
veteran	O
employees	O
,	O
including	O
Team	B-Application
Fortress	I-Application
2	I-Application
designer	O
Robin	O
Walker	O
and	O
executive	O
Erik	O
Johnson	O
,	O
became	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
mod	O
and	O
wanted	O
to	O
build	O
a	O
modern	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IceFrog	O
announced	O
his	O
new	O
position	O
through	O
his	O
blog	O
in	O
October	O
2009	O
,	O
with	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
being	O
announced	O
a	O
year	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
adopted	O
the	O
word	O
"	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
"	O
,	O
derived	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
mod	O
's	O
acronym	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
name	O
for	O
its	O
newly	O
acquired	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Valve	O
filed	O
a	O
trademark	O
claim	O
to	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
name	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Holding	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
name	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
community	O
asset	O
,	O
Feak	O
and	O
Mescon	O
filed	O
an	O
opposing	O
trademark	O
for	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
on	O
behalf	O
of	O
DotA-Allstars	O
,	O
LLC	O
(	O
then	O
a	O
subsidiary	O
of	O
Riot	O
Games	O
)	O
in	O
August	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rob	O
Pardo	O
,	O
the	O
executive	O
vice	O
president	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
similarly	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
name	O
belonged	O
to	O
the	O
mod	O
's	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
acquired	O
DotA-Allstars	O
,	O
LLC	O
from	O
Riot	O
Games	O
and	O
filed	O
an	O
opposition	O
against	O
Valve	O
in	O
November	O
2011	O
,	O
citing	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
ownership	O
of	O
both	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
World	O
Editor	O
and	O
DotA-Allstars	O
,	O
LLC	O
as	O
proper	O
claims	O
to	O
the	O
franchise	O
name	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
dispute	O
was	O
settled	O
in	O
May	O
2012	O
,	O
with	O
Valve	O
retaining	O
commercial	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
trademark	O
,	O
while	O
allowing	O
non-commercial	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
name	O
by	O
third-parties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
,	O
Valve	O
's	O
ownership	O
of	O
franchise	O
was	O
again	O
challenged	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
2004	O
internet	B-Application
forum	I-Application
post	O
from	O
Eul	O
was	O
brought	O
to	O
light	O
by	O
a	O
Chinese	O
company	O
known	O
as	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
released	O
a	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
2014	O
that	O
used	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
who	O
was	O
previously	O
involved	O
in	O
a	O
lawsuit	O
with	O
Blizzard	O
in	O
2015	O
for	O
similar	O
reasons	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
another	O
Chinese	O
company	O
,	O
Lilith	O
Games	O
,	O
argued	O
that	O
the	O
forum	O
post	O
invalidated	O
any	O
ownership	O
claims	O
of	O
the	O
intellectual	O
property	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
property	O
was	O
an	O
open-source	B-Application
,	O
collective	O
work	O
that	O
could	O
not	O
be	O
copyrighted	O
by	O
anyone	O
in	O
particular	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
early	O
goal	O
of	O
the	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
team	O
was	O
the	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
aesthetic	O
style	O
for	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
first	O
Q&A	O
session	O
regarding	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
IceFrog	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
build	O
upon	O
the	O
mod	O
without	O
making	O
significant	O
changes	O
to	O
its	O
core	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
hired	O
Eul	O
and	O
contracted	O
major	O
contributors	O
from	O
the	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
community	O
,	O
including	O
artist	O
Kendrick	O
Lim	O
,	O
to	O
assist	O
with	O
the	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
contributions	O
from	O
sources	O
outside	O
of	O
Valve	O
were	O
also	O
sought	O
regularly	O
for	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
as	O
to	O
continue	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
tradition	O
of	O
community-sourced	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
composers	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reign	I-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
,	O
Jason	O
Hayes	O
,	O
was	O
hired	O
to	O
collaborate	O
with	O
Tim	O
Larkin	O
to	O
write	O
the	O
original	O
score	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
conducted	O
by	O
Timothy	O
Williams	O
and	O
performed	O
and	O
recorded	O
by	O
the	O
Northwest	O
Sinfonia	O
at	O
Bastyr	O
University	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
had	O
Half-Life	O
series	O
writer	O
Marc	O
Laidlaw	O
,	O
science	O
fiction	O
author	O
Ted	O
Kosmatka	O
,	O
and	O
Steam	B-Application
support	O
employee	O
Kris	O
Katz	O
write	O
new	O
dialog	O
and	O
background	O
lore	O
for	O
the	O
heroes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
was	O
updated	O
with	O
new	O
features	O
to	O
accommodate	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
high-end	O
cloth	O
modeling	O
and	O
improved	O
global	O
lighting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
Steam	B-Application
integration	O
,	O
which	O
provides	O
its	O
social	O
component	O
and	O
cloud	O
storage	O
for	O
personal	O
settings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
Valve	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
,	O
players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
spectate	O
live	O
matches	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
played	O
by	O
others	O
,	O
and	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
(	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
)	O
multiplayer	O
support	O
allows	O
for	O
local	O
competitions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
these	O
events	O
may	O
be	O
spectated	O
via	O
the	O
purchase	O
of	O
tickets	O
from	O
the	O
"	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Store	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
give	O
players	O
in-game	O
access	O
to	O
matches	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
an	O
in-game	O
fantasy	O
sports	O
system	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
modeled	O
after	O
traditional	O
fantasy	O
sports	O
and	O
feature	O
professional	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
players	O
and	O
teams	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
spectate	O
games	O
in	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
(	O
VR	O
)	O
with	O
up	O
to	O
15	O
others	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
added	O
in	O
an	O
update	O
in	O
July	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
update	O
added	O
a	O
hero	O
showcase	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
see	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
heroes	O
and	O
their	O
cosmetics	O
full-size	O
in	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
plan	O
to	O
develop	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
into	O
a	O
social	O
network	O
,	O
Newell	O
announced	O
in	O
April	O
2012	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
free-to-play	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
community	O
contributions	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
cornerstone	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
revenue	O
is	O
generated	O
through	O
the	O
"	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Store	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
offers	O
for-purchase	O
cosmetic	O
virtual	B-General_Concept
goods	I-General_Concept
,	O
such	O
as	O
custom	O
armor	O
and	O
weapons	O
for	O
their	O
heroes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Until	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
players	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
purchase	O
an	O
early	O
access	O
bundle	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
a	O
digital	O
copy	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
several	O
cosmetic	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Included	O
as	O
optional	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
,	O
the	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
Workshop	O
Tools	O
are	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
software	B-Application
development	I-Application
kit	I-Application
(	O
SDK	O
)	O
tools	O
that	O
allow	O
content	O
creators	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
hero	O
cosmetics	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
custom	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
bot	O
scripts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Highly	O
rated	O
cosmetics	O
,	O
through	O
the	O
Steam	B-Application
Workshop	O
,	O
are	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
in-game	O
store	O
if	O
they	O
are	O
accepted	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
model	O
was	O
fashioned	O
after	O
Valve	O
's	O
Team	B-Application
Fortress	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
which	O
had	O
earned	O
Workshop	O
designers	O
of	O
cosmetic	O
items	O
of	O
that	O
game	O
over	O
$3.5	O
million	O
by	O
June	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Newell	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
average	O
Steam	B-Application
Workshop	O
contributor	O
for	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Team	O
Fortess	O
2	O
made	O
approximately	O
$	O
15,000	O
from	O
their	O
creations	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2015	O
,	O
sales	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
virtual	B-General_Concept
goods	I-General_Concept
had	O
earned	O
Valve	O
over	O
$238	O
million	O
in	O
revenue	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
digital	O
game	O
market	O
research	O
group	O
SuperData	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
seasonal	O
Elo	O
rating-based	O
matchmaking	O
system	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
measured	O
by	O
a	O
numerical	O
value	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
matchmaking	O
rating	O
"	O
(	O
MMR	O
)	O
that	O
is	O
tracked	O
separately	O
for	O
core	O
and	O
support	O
roles	O
,	O
and	O
ranked	O
into	O
different	O
tiers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
features	O
include	O
an	O
improved	O
replay	O
system	O
from	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
,	O
in	O
which	O
a	O
completed	O
game	O
can	O
be	O
downloaded	O
in-client	O
and	O
viewed	O
by	O
anyone	O
at	O
a	O
later	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
hero	O
builds	O
"	O
feature	O
,	O
which	O
provide	O
integrated	O
guides	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
community	O
that	O
highlight	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
how	O
to	O
play	O
their	O
hero	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2015	O
,	O
Valve	O
announced	O
that	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
be	O
ported	O
over	O
to	O
their	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
game	O
engine	O
in	O
an	O
update	O
called	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
Reborn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reborn	O
included	O
a	O
new	O
user	O
interface	O
framework	O
design	O
,	O
ability	O
for	O
custom	O
game	O
modes	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
community	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
full	O
replacement	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
with	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
move	O
to	O
Source	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
allowed	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Vulkan	B-Application
graphics	I-Application
API	I-Application
,	O
released	O
as	O
an	O
optional	O
feature	O
in	O
May	O
2016	O
,	O
making	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
games	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
at	O
Gamescom	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
coinciding	O
with	O
the	O
inaugural	O
International	O
championship	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
premier	O
esport	O
tournament	O
event	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
event	O
,	O
Valve	O
began	O
sending	O
out	O
closed	O
beta	O
invitations	O
to	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
players	O
and	O
attendees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
nearly	O
two	O
years	O
of	O
beta	O
testing	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
for	O
Windows	O
on	O
July	O
9	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
and	O
Linux	B-Application
on	O
July	O
18	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
did	O
not	O
launch	O
with	O
every	O
hero	O
from	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
the	O
missing	O
ones	O
were	O
added	O
in	O
various	O
post-release	O
updates	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
final	O
one	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
original	O
hero	O
,	O
being	O
added	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
months	O
following	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
Newell	O
claimed	O
that	O
updates	O
to	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
generated	O
up	O
to	O
three	O
percent	O
of	O
global	O
internet	O
traffic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
final	O
restrictions	O
against	O
unlimited	O
global	O
access	O
to	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
were	O
lifted	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
infrastructure	O
and	O
servers	O
were	O
substantially	O
bolstered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
Nexon	O
announced	O
they	O
would	O
no	O
longer	O
be	O
operating	O
servers	O
for	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
with	O
Valve	O
taking	O
over	O
direct	O
distribution	O
and	O
marketing	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
those	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2016	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
updated	O
to	O
gameplay	O
version	O
7.00	O
,	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
The	O
New	O
Journey	O
"	O
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
update	O
,	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
series	O
had	O
been	O
in	O
version	O
6.xx	O
for	O
over	O
a	O
decade	O
,	O
marking	O
the	O
first	O
major	O
revision	O
since	O
IceFrog	O
originally	O
took	O
over	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
mod	O
in	O
the	O
mid-2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
New	O
Journey	O
update	O
added	O
and	O
changed	O
numerous	O
features	O
and	O
mechanics	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
adding	O
the	O
first	O
original	O
hero	O
not	O
ported	O
over	O
from	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
,	O
a	O
reworked	O
map	O
,	O
a	O
redesigned	O
HUD	O
,	O
a	O
pre-game	O
phase	O
that	O
allows	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
discuss	O
their	O
team	O
strategy	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
Talent	O
Tree	O
"	O
ability	O
augmentation	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2017	O
,	O
Valve	O
announced	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ranked	O
matchmaking	O
system	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
main	O
one	O
requiring	O
the	O
registration	O
of	O
a	O
unique	O
phone	O
number	O
to	O
a	O
player	O
's	O
account	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
play	O
them	O
,	O
an	O
anti-griefing	O
and	O
smurfing	O
practice	O
they	O
had	O
previously	O
implemented	O
in	O
their	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
game	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
:	I-Application
Global	I-Application
Offensive	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
matchmaking	O
were	O
brought	O
in	O
an	O
update	O
in	O
November	O
2017	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
old	O
numerical	O
MMR	O
system	O
was	O
replaced	O
by	O
a	O
seasonal	O
one	O
based	O
on	O
eight	O
ranked	O
tiers	O
that	O
are	O
recalibrated	O
around	O
every	O
six	O
months	O
,	O
a	O
move	O
that	O
brought	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ranked	O
system	O
closer	O
to	O
ones	O
used	O
in	O
other	O
competitive	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Global	B-Application
Offensive	I-Application
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
and	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
introduced	O
the	O
"	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Plus	O
"	O
monthly	O
subscription	O
system	O
that	O
replaced	O
the	O
seasonal	O
battle	O
passes	O
that	O
were	O
released	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
a	O
Major	O
tournament	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
offering	O
everything	O
battle	O
passes	O
previously	O
did	O
,	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Plus	O
added	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
hero-specific	O
achievement	O
system	O
that	O
reward	O
players	O
who	O
complete	O
them	O
with	O
exclusive	O
cosmetics	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
providing	O
hero	O
and	O
game	O
analytics	O
and	O
statistics	O
gathered	O
from	O
thousands	O
of	O
recent	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
ensure	O
that	O
enough	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
players	O
would	O
take	O
up	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
to	O
promote	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
a	O
new	O
audience	O
,	O
Valve	O
invited	O
sixteen	O
accomplished	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
esports	O
teams	O
to	O
compete	O
at	O
a	O
Dota	O
2-specific	O
tournament	O
at	O
Gamescom	O
in	O
August	O
2011	O
,	O
which	O
later	O
became	O
an	O
annually	O
held	O
event	O
known	O
as	O
The	O
International	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
its	O
beta	O
phase	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
2010s	O
several	O
other	O
esport	O
events	O
would	O
begin	O
hosting	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
events	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Sports	O
World	O
Cup	O
,	O
DreamHack	O
,	O
World	O
Cyber	O
Games	O
,	O
and	O
ESL	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2011	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
already	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
highest-paying	O
esport	O
games	O
,	O
second	O
to	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2015	O
,	O
Valve	O
sponsored	O
and	O
held	O
the	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
Asia	O
Championships	O
in	O
Shanghai	B-Device
,	O
with	O
a	O
prize	O
pool	O
of	O
over	O
$3	O
million	O
raised	O
through	O
compendium	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
total	O
,	O
professional	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
tournaments	O
had	O
earned	O
teams	O
and	O
players	O
over	O
$100	O
million	O
by	O
June	O
2017	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
half	O
of	O
that	O
being	O
awarded	O
at	O
Internationals	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
highest	O
earning	O
esport	O
game	O
by	O
a	O
margin	O
of	O
nearly	O
$60	O
million	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
late	O
2015	O
until	O
early	O
2017	O
,	O
Valve	O
sponsored	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
smaller-scale	O
,	O
seasonally	O
held	O
tournaments	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Major	O
Championships	O
,	O
which	O
all	O
had	O
fixed	O
prize	O
pools	O
of	O
3	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
format	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
tournament	O
series	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
name	O
that	O
Valve	O
also	O
sponsored	O
for	O
their	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
game	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
:	I-Application
Global	I-Application
Offensive	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Including	O
The	O
International	O
2016	O
and	O
2017	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
cumulative	O
Major	O
of	O
their	O
respective	O
seasons	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
had	O
five	O
other	O
events	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
the	O
Frankfurt	O
Major	O
,	O
Shanghai	B-Device
Major	O
,	O
Manila	O
Major	O
,	O
Boston	O
Major	O
,	O
and	O
Kiev	O
Major	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
International	O
2017	O
,	O
the	O
Majors	O
were	O
replaced	O
with	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
Pro	O
Circuit	O
(	O
DPC	O
)	O
format	O
due	O
to	O
criticism	O
by	O
teams	O
and	O
fans	O
for	O
Valve	O
's	O
non-transparent	O
and	O
unpredictable	O
nature	O
for	O
handing	O
out	O
International	O
invitations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
primary	O
medium	O
for	O
professional	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
coverage	O
is	O
through	O
the	O
live	O
streaming	O
platform	O
Twitch	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Coverage	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
tournaments	O
have	O
been	O
simulcast	O
on	O
television	O
networks	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
ESPN	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
BBC	O
Three	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
Sport1	O
in	O
Germany	O
,	O
TV	O
2	O
Zulu	O
in	O
Denmark	O
,	O
Xinwen	O
Lianbo	O
in	O
China	O
,	O
Astro	O
in	O
Malaysia	O
,	O
and	O
TV5	O
in	O
the	O
Philippines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
,	O
and	O
has	O
been	O
cited	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
preview	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
2012	O
,	O
Rich	O
McCormick	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
thought	O
that	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
"	O
an	O
unbelievably	O
deep	O
and	O
complex	O
game	O
that	O
offers	O
the	O
purest	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Adam	O
Biessener	O
,	O
the	O
editor	O
who	O
authored	O
the	O
announcement	O
article	O
for	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
Game	O
Informer	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
praised	O
Valve	O
for	O
maintaining	O
the	O
same	O
mechanics	O
and	O
game	O
balance	O
that	O
made	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
successful	O
nearly	O
a	O
decade	O
prior	O
and	O
Quintin	O
Smith	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
described	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
the	O
"	O
supreme	O
form	O
of	O
the	O
MOBA	O
which	O
everyone	O
else	O
working	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
is	O
trying	O
to	O
capture	O
like	O
lightning	O
in	O
a	O
bottle	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Martin	O
Gaston	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
complimented	O
Valve	O
for	O
the	O
artistic	O
design	O
and	O
delivery	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
citing	O
the	O
execution	O
of	O
the	O
user	O
interface	O
design	O
,	O
voice	O
acting	O
,	O
and	O
characterization	O
as	O
exceeding	O
those	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
competitors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Phill	O
Cameron	O
of	O
IGN	O
and	O
James	O
Kozanitis	O
of	O
Hardcore	O
Gamer	O
both	O
praised	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
its	O
free-to-play	O
business	O
model	O
including	O
only	O
cosmetic	O
items	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
other	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
,	O
which	O
charges	O
to	O
unlock	O
better	O
"	O
heroes	O
"	O
to	O
play	O
as	O
,	O
with	O
Kozanitis	O
stating	O
that	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
"	O
the	O
only	O
game	O
to	O
do	O
free-to-play	O
right	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nick	O
Kolan	O
of	O
IGN	O
agreed	O
,	O
comparing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
business	O
model	O
to	O
Valve	O
's	O
Team	B-Application
Fortress	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
which	O
uses	O
a	O
nearly	O
identical	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Post-release	O
additions	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
praised	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
(	O
VR	O
)	O
support	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ben	O
Kuchera	O
of	O
Polygon	O
thought	O
that	O
spectating	O
games	O
in	O
VR	O
was	O
"	O
amazing	O
"	O
,	O
comparing	O
it	O
to	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
watch	O
an	O
American	B-Application
football	I-Application
game	O
on	O
television	O
with	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
jump	O
onto	O
the	O
field	O
at	O
any	O
time	O
to	O
see	O
the	O
quarterback	B-Application
's	O
point	O
of	O
view	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
reviewers	O
gave	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
highly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
a	O
common	O
criticism	O
was	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
maintains	O
a	O
steep	O
learning	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
that	O
requires	O
exceptional	O
commitment	O
to	O
overcome	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
providing	O
a	O
moderately	O
positive	O
review	O
that	O
praised	O
Valve	O
's	O
product	O
stability	O
,	O
Fredrik	O
Åslund	O
from	O
the	O
Swedish	O
division	O
of	O
Gamereactor	O
described	O
his	O
first	O
match	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
humiliating	O
and	O
inhospitable	O
experiences	O
of	O
his	O
gaming	O
career	O
,	O
citing	O
the	O
learning	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
and	O
players	O
 '	O
attitudes	O
as	O
unwelcoming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Benjamin	O
Danneberg	O
of	O
GameStar	O
alluded	O
to	O
the	O
learning	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
as	O
a	O
"	O
learning	O
cliff	O
"	O
,	O
calling	O
the	O
newcomer	O
's	O
experience	O
painful	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
tutorial	O
feature	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
franchise	O
only	O
being	O
partially	O
successful	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
review	O
for	O
Metro	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
not	O
compensating	O
for	O
the	O
flaws	O
with	O
the	O
learning	B-General_Concept
curve	I-General_Concept
from	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
often	O
hostile	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Peter	O
Bright	O
of	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
also	O
directed	O
criticism	O
at	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
third-party	O
websites	O
to	O
allow	O
skin	O
gambling	O
and	O
betting	O
on	O
match	O
results	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
controversies	O
that	O
also	O
existed	O
with	O
Valve	O
's	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
:	I-Application
Global	I-Application
Offensive	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
an	O
example	O
,	O
Bright	O
thought	O
that	O
Valve	O
had	O
built	O
gambling	O
elements	O
directly	O
into	O
their	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
issues	O
with	O
the	O
unregulated	O
practice	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
said	O
was	O
often	O
used	O
by	O
underage	O
players	O
and	O
regions	O
where	O
gambling	O
is	O
illegal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Australian	O
senator	O
Nick	O
Xenophon	O
had	O
similar	O
sentiment	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
he	O
wanted	O
to	O
introduce	O
legislation	O
in	O
his	O
country	O
to	O
minimize	O
underage	O
access	O
to	O
gambling	O
within	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
controversy	O
,	O
Valve	O
and	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
project	O
manager	O
Erik	O
Johnson	O
stated	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
taking	O
action	O
against	O
the	O
third-party	O
sites	O
as	O
the	O
practice	O
was	O
not	O
allowed	O
by	O
their	O
user	O
agreements	O
or	O
API	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Comparisons	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
other	O
MOBA	O
games	O
are	O
commonplace	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
mechanics	O
and	O
business	O
model	O
compared	O
to	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
and	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contrasting	O
it	O
with	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
,	O
T	O
.	O
J	O
.	O
Hafer	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
called	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
"	O
superior	O
experience	O
"	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
he	O
thought	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
"	O
all	O
about	O
counterplay	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
heroes	O
being	O
designed	O
to	O
directly	O
counter	O
another	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hafer	O
also	O
preferred	O
the	O
way	O
the	O
game	O
handled	O
its	O
hero	O
selection	O
pool	O
,	O
with	O
all	O
of	O
them	O
being	O
unlocked	O
right	O
from	O
the	O
start	O
,	O
unlike	O
in	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Comparing	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
,	O
Jason	O
Parker	O
of	O
CNET	O
said	O
that	O
while	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
was	O
easier	O
to	O
get	O
into	O
,	O
the	O
complexities	O
and	O
depth	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
be	O
appreciated	O
more	O
by	O
those	O
who	O
put	O
in	O
the	O
time	O
to	O
master	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
comparing	O
it	O
to	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Newerth	I-Application
,	O
players	O
from	O
the	O
professional	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
team	O
OG	O
said	O
that	O
most	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Newerth	I-Application
players	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
transition	O
over	O
easily	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
strong	O
similarities	O
that	O
both	O
games	O
share	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
other	O
highly	O
competitive	O
online	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
often	O
considered	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
hostile	O
and	O
"	O
toxic	O
"	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
reveal	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
won	O
IGN	O
's	O
People	O
's	O
Choice	O
Award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2012	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
listed	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
a	O
nominee	O
for	O
their	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
award	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
esports	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
won	O
the	O
esport	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
award	O
from	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
and	O
onGamers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Game	O
Informer	O
recognized	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
the	O
categories	O
of	O
Best	O
PC	O
Exclusive	O
,	O
Best	O
Competitive	O
Multiplayer	O
and	O
Best	O
Strategy	O
of	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
several	O
awards	O
by	O
Destructoid	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
staff	O
selected	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heart	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
votes	O
distributed	O
between	O
the	O
nine	O
nominees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
later	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
best	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
at	O
the	O
10th	O
British	O
Academy	O
Games	O
Awards	O
in	O
2014	O
,	O
but	O
lost	O
to	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
V	I-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
Esports	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
at	O
its	O
events	O
from	O
2015	O
to	O
2019	O
,	O
while	O
winning	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
best	O
MOBA	O
at	O
the	O
2015	O
Global	O
Game	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
community	O
created	O
"	O
Love/Hate	O
Relationship	O
"	O
award	O
at	O
the	O
inaugural	O
Steam	B-Application
Awards	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
month	O
prior	O
to	O
its	O
launch	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
already	O
the	O
most	O
played	O
game	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
with	O
a	O
concurrent	O
player	O
count	O
of	O
nearly	O
330	O
,	O
000	O
,	O
which	O
outweighed	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
players	O
for	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
platform	O
's	O
top	O
ten	O
most-played	O
games	O
combined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
remained	O
as	O
the	O
most	O
played	O
game	O
by	O
concurrent	O
players	O
on	O
the	O
platform	O
for	O
four	O
years	O
,	O
having	O
a	O
peak	O
of	O
over	O
one	O
million	O
and	O
never	O
dropping	O
below	O
first	O
place	O
for	O
any	O
extended	O
period	O
of	O
time	O
until	O
being	O
surpassed	O
by	O
PlayerUnknown	B-Application
's	I-Application
Battlegrounds	I-Application
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Viewership	O
and	O
followings	O
of	O
professional	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
leagues	O
and	O
tournaments	O
are	O
popular	O
,	O
with	O
peak	O
viewership	O
numbers	O
of	O
some	O
events	O
reaching	O
several	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
been	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
multi-sport	O
events	O
in	O
Asia	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Asian	O
Indoor	O
and	O
Martial	O
Arts	O
Games	O
and	O
Southeast	O
Asian	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
popularity	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
led	O
Valve	O
to	O
produce	O
apparel	O
,	O
accessories	O
,	O
figurines	O
,	O
and	O
several	O
other	O
products	O
featuring	O
the	O
heroes	O
and	O
other	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Valve	O
secured	O
licensing	O
contracts	O
with	O
third-party	O
producers	O
;	O
the	O
first	O
of	O
these	O
deals	O
concerned	O
a	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
themed	O
SteelSeries	B-Device
mousepad	B-Language
,	O
which	O
was	O
announced	O
alongside	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
Gamescom	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Gamescom	O
2015	O
,	O
an	O
HTC	O
Vive	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
(	O
VR	O
)	O
tech	O
demo	O
based	O
around	O
the	O
shopkeeper	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
item	O
shop	O
was	O
showcased	O
,	O
allowing	O
participants	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
various	O
items	O
and	O
objects	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
VR	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
demo	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
Secret	O
Shop	O
,	O
was	O
later	O
included	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Lab	I-Application
,	O
Valve	O
's	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
compilation	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
awarded	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Aegis	O
again	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
for	O
The	O
International	O
2016	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
selling	O
a	O
limited	O
edition	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
themed	O
HTC	O
Vive	O
virtual	B-Device
reality	I-Device
headset	I-Device
during	O
the	O
event	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
digital	B-Application
collectible	I-Application
card	I-Application
game	I-Application
based	O
on	O
the	O
universe	O
of	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
designed	O
by	O
Magic	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Gathering	I-Application
creator	O
Richard	O
Garfield	O
and	O
Valve	O
,	O
Artifact	B-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Promotional	O
tie-ins	O
to	O
other	O
video	O
games	O
and	O
media	O
have	O
been	O
added	O
to	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
including	O
custom	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Bastion	B-Application
,	O
Portal	B-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Stanley	I-Application
Parable	I-Application
,	O
Rick	O
and	O
Morty	O
,	O
Fallout	B-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
Deus	B-Application
Ex	I-Application
:	I-Application
Mankind	I-Application
Divided	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Darkest	B-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
announcer	O
packs	O
,	O
which	O
replace	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
default	O
announcer	O
with	O
ones	O
based	O
on	O
those	O
franchises	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
Windows	O
release	O
of	O
Square	O
Enix	O
's	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
Type-0	I-Application
HD	I-Application
in	O
August	O
2015	O
,	O
a	O
bundle	O
containing	O
a	O
custom	O
loading	O
screen	O
,	O
a	O
Moogle	O
ward	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
Chocobo	O
courier	O
were	O
added	O
the	O
same	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2016	O
,	O
Valve	O
announced	O
a	O
cross-promotional	O
workshop	O
contest	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
Total	B-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Warhammer	I-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
winning	O
entries	O
being	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
,	O
a	O
cosmetic	O
set	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Companion	O
Cube	O
from	O
the	O
Portal	B-Application
series	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
that	O
year	O
's	O
International	O
battle	O
pass	O
for	O
the	O
hero	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Io	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
the	O
character	O
Amaterasu	O
from	O
Capcom	O
's	O
Ōkami	B-Application
was	O
included	O
as	O
a	O
courier	O
for	O
those	O
who	O
had	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
PC	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
American	O
basketball	B-Application
player	O
Jeremy	O
Lin	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
a	O
media	O
sensation	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
had	O
a	O
guest	O
appearance	O
in	O
the	O
film	O
and	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
a	O
way	O
of	O
life	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lin	O
later	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
esports	O
scene	O
in	O
general	O
to	O
basketball	B-Application
and	O
other	O
traditional	O
sporting	O
events	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
not	O
much	O
of	O
a	O
difference	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
,	O
while	O
comparing	O
various	O
NBA	B-Application
all-stars	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Stephen	O
Curry	O
,	O
Kobe	O
Bryant	O
,	O
and	O
LeBron	O
James	O
,	O
to	O
different	O
heroes	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
have	O
also	O
endorsed	O
cosplay	O
competitions	O
featuring	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
heroes	O
,	O
which	O
take	O
place	O
during	O
downtime	O
at	O
some	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
tournaments	O
and	O
feature	O
prize	O
pools	O
of	O
their	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creation	O
of	O
Dota	O
2-themed	O
animations	O
and	O
CGI	O
videos	O
,	O
mostly	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
community	O
with	O
Source	B-Language
Filmmaker	I-Language
,	O
also	O
take	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
physical	O
collection	O
of	O
the	O
comics	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Comic	O
Collection	O
by	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
in	O
August	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anime	O
streaming	O
television	O
series	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Dota	B-Operating_System
:	O
Dragon	O
's	O
Blood	O
,	O
premiered	O
on	O
Netflix	O
in	O
March	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
been	O
used	O
in	O
machine	O
learning	O
experiments	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
American	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
research	I-Application
company	O
OpenAI	O
curating	O
a	O
system	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
OpenAI	B-Operating_System
Five	I-Operating_System
,	O
that	O
allows	O
bots	O
to	O
learn	O
how	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
a	O
high	O
skill	O
level	O
entirely	O
through	O
trial-and-error	O
algorithms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
year	O
later	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
of	O
the	O
bots	O
had	O
increased	O
to	O
work	O
together	O
as	O
a	O
full	O
team	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
OpenAI	B-Operating_System
Five	I-Operating_System
,	O
who	O
then	O
played	O
and	O
won	O
against	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
semi-professional	O
players	O
in	O
a	O
demonstration	O
game	O
in	O
August	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
,	O
OpenAI	B-Operating_System
Five	I-Operating_System
then	O
played	O
two	O
live	O
games	O
against	O
more	O
skilled	O
players	O
at	O
The	O
International	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
bots	O
lost	O
both	O
games	O
,	O
OpenAI	O
considered	O
it	O
successful	O
as	O
playing	O
the	O
bots	O
against	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
players	O
in	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
allowed	O
them	O
to	O
analyze	O
and	O
adjust	O
their	O
algorithms	O
for	O
future	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
