Valve officially shuts down DPC Circuit

In a recent and somewhat unexpected twist of event, Valve Corporation has officially declared the closure of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) after the 2023 season, drawing the curtains on a six-year-long chapter in competitive Dota 2 history.

Valve recently announced the discontinuation of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) after the 2023 season, marking the end of a six-year era. The Dota community is in a state of uncertainty, with players and fans alike wondering what the future holds for competitive Dota 2.

⚡️ NO MORE DPC in Dota 2https://t.co/tFYEYKu0q9 pic.twitter.com/cM3KWbJwgd

— Arseny Kuzminsky (@_koozya) September 14, 2023

 

Back in 2017, Valve introduced the DPC to make things more transparent and organized when it came to inviting teams to The International (TI). But let’s face it, the DPC had its fair share of critics. Valve even admitted it was kind of tying things up too tight on the event calendar. One of the major complaints about the DPC was how it crimped the style of tournament organizers.

They had to stick to a bunch of rules and standards, which meant fewer exciting events and broadcasts. But don’t worry, The International isn’t going anywhere. Valve is planning to go back to the good ol’ days, inviting teams to TI the old-fashioned way. They’re keeping the details under wraps for now, but it sounds like a change from the structured DPC format we’ve been used to.

What lies ahead?

Now, let’s talk about what’s next. With the DPC out of the picture, everyone’s speculating like mad. Some fans are eyeing the ESL Pro Circuit as a potential savior. The renowned event organizer has been putting on some impressive Dota 2 events, like the Riyadh Masters with its whopping $15 million prize pool. If they step up, it could be a game-changer. But, there’s a catch.

Without a central league structure like the DPC, things might get a bit messy. Dota 2 used to thrive on a bunch of independent tournaments before the DPC came along. While returning to these grassroots events is appealing to many, concerns remain about scheduling conflicts and a potential lack of stability within the professional scene.

Valve’s decision to end the DPC reflects a desire to rekindle the spirit of innovation and diversity that once defined competitive Dota 2. The DPC’s structured approach had limitations, and by discontinuing it, Valve hopes to see the return of the kind of inventive and diverse tournaments that flourished before the DPC era.

Valve has assured fans that they are already working on The International 2024, promising more information about how team invitations will be handled in the coming year. As Dota 2 enters this new chapter, the community is poised for a shift towards more varied and exciting competitive experiences.

Header: Valve