The last few months have been nothing less than a series of spectacular successes for Valve’s Dota 2. With ever-increasing numbers of players, continuous updates to the game itself, and an eSports scene that seems to keep going from strong to stronger, Dota 2 has arguably never had a quarter as successful as the 3rd quarter of 2014.
That is possibly why many are fairly shocked that on the heels of one of the game’s most successful periods, an update such as the 6.82 patch (now dubbed ‘Rekindling Soul’) is being pushed out. Not only does this update contain numerous visual changes, but it also carries with it some very core gameplay updates that have deep-seated implications and will likely change the fundamentals of how the game is played.
“If Something isn’t Broken – Why Fix It?”
At first glance, it all seems very puzzling. Why introduce widespread changes to a game that is doing so well? Why alter gameplay that has proven to be so engaging?
Essentially it all boils down to one point in particular: Dota 2 is not a game that can afford to be stagnant.
Experienced players (especially those who have been aficionados of the game since the days of the original DotA) will know that this is one game that is in a perpetual state of change, with countless patches month after month that alter its balance, switch up skills, introduce new heroes, and even change the map itself.
The reason for all of these changes is really quite simple: it is all to prevent the game itself from becoming stale. Think about it: Dota 2 (like League of Legends and many other MOBA-type games), is a game that essentially consists of a single map being played over and over again. While no two games are the same in terms of lineup, circumstances, strategy, and so on – without any changes, after a certain point a degree of familiarity is bound to set in.
And for all the success of the game over the last few months, in its professional eSports scene the signs of that familiarity with the current version are already being seen. Certain lineups of heroes, strategies, and approaches have begun to far outstrip others in terms of popularity in the current meta.
To keep the game relevant, especially with regards to its thriving eSports scene, change is necessary. With eSports itself going through a period of profound competative growth, it is only a matter of time before it is featured in gambling establishments.
Rekindling Dota 2
In a nutshell, Dota 2 needs exactly the kind of ground-breaking update that Valve has just released. The only question is: Can the ‘Rekindling Soul’ do enough to rekindle Dota 2?
While only time will tell, the key ingredients all certainly seem to be there. Most of the changes in this update seem to be geared towards punishing sloppy play, and allowing teams to come from behind if they’re able to capitalize on their enemy’s mistakes. Essentially, Dota 2 should see some much closer games from here on out, as opposed to a single team dominating from start to finish.
