Is DOTA 2 TI Slowly Dying Out And What Can We Expect In TI 2025

The competition tightens among esports tournaments. As its popularity and support continue to grow, new leagues emerge in the scene that gain spotlight in the community. This made the competitive landscape evolve quicker than ever. With that, some older and established tournaments are now struggling to keep up with the ongoing trends. 

The International (TI), which has been Dota 2’s biggest premier esports event all time, approached its 14th iteration this year. However, unlike the previous seasons, the future starts to look bleak for this tournament. Can TI ever return to its glorious position, especially this TI 2025?

The Decline of Prize Pools

The International, historically, is known for its record-breaking prize pools. The 2021 season had fans and the community shocked with the astounding prize pool amounting to $40,018,195. Unfortunately, this has also been the biggest indicator of TI’s decline in the competitive scene. The recent years saw a dramatic drop in the prize pools, as records show: 

• TI 2021: $40,018,195
• TI 2022: $18,930,775
• TI 2023: $3,380,455
• TI 2024: $1,600,000 (base prize pool) 

In the previous seasons of The International, they included a portion of sales from this in the prize pool. It is evident to contribute significantly to the growth of the prize pool. However, Valve implemented changes in the game that included the discontinuation of battle passes. With this, there has been concern over the prestige and ability to attract top global talents after the notable prize money decreased.

Changes in the Competitive Ecosystem

Valve also made major changes in the competitive ecosystem of Dota 2 upon restructuring it. After 2023, they cancelled the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) system that affected the players and staff. Upon removal, many tier-two teams lost their stable income source. Thus, when new tournament organizers entered the scene, it immediately earned attention from players and the community. Among these popular tournaments are: 

• BLAST and CCT have entered the DOTA 2 tournament space.
• PGL has returned to organizing DOTA 2 events.
• The 2025 schedule is now packed with more diverse tournaments.

The Rise of Alternative Events

With other tournaments stepping up to fill the void left by Valve, the prominence of TI also falters. A new competition arose to challenge the The International prize pool. This in particular is the Riyadh Masters, which became a major annual event to have a big prize money. Its prize pool remains competitive out of the Dota 2 tournaments despite its massive decrease this 2024.

• Riyadh Masters 2022: $4,000,000
• Riyadh Masters 2023: $15,000,000
• Riyadh Masters 2024: $5,000,000

Player Base and Viewership

Amidst decline in prize pool and changes in the competitive landscape, TI boasts its stable player base and viewership count. This shows how established the league is with its dedicated audience to support. Their recent viewership records are significantly high.

In May 2024, their peak player count reached 951,239. Meanwhile, their Twitch viewership is stable, with spikes occurring on major events. Overall, it is an amazing achievement for Dota 2’s TI to maintain its hundreds of thousands of players for over a decade. 

What to Expect for TI 2025

Overall, there are few gray areas in the future of TI but it does not mean that they are significantly out among the top leagues. Moreover, the preparation for TI 2025 is in motion as several rumors and leaks circulate around. 

The streets are suggesting that next season of The International might be held in China. Although it is unconfirmed, it only means that Valve is attempting to reignite the interest in Dota 2 starting in the Asian market. However, with the trends in their prize pool, it is unlikely that TI 2025 will offer a generous amount. They may have to explore and implement new funding models or partnerships. 

In terms of production, Valve has an ongoing production partnership with PGL. They are involved in TI production as well as the upcoming CS2 Major in Shanghai. With this, they might influence the quality for the TI 2025 if they do well. 

Conclusion

The International already engraved itself in the history of esports tournaments all over the world. It has set records consecutive times, especially with their spectacular prize pool. Aside from it, they hosted some of the biggest and most exciting matches of all time. What TI is experiencing is part of the challenges faced by an experienced league. It is normal to struggle to cope with the trends in the fast-paced growth of the competitive scene. They may still make adjustments and adapt, especially since they have an established player base. 

With these, it is premature to claim that Dota 2 is “dying out.” For now, you may take a refresher while waiting for the TI 2025. Although no details are confirmed so far, it is not impossible for the tournament to take a trip in the Asian market, particularly, China. Besides, the player may see production quality improvement as Valve partnered with PGL in their upcoming tournaments.