VeRsuta highlighted the problems facing the Dota 2 esports scene and suggested a possible solution.

About 10 years ago, or even longer, I said that The International follows a script. Back then, I had two theories: either the teams are being crushed, or they’re playing according to a script. I wanted to believe the latter more, and that’s the version I voiced many times. The logic was that if the same team from the same region won every TI, it would be far less interesting for viewers, and audience growth would be much lower. In my view, TI is first and foremost a marketing event designed to attract new players. Although it was believed that Valve didn’t advertise Dota at all, in reality, The International was that very large-scale annual advertising campaign that everyone was talking about all over the internet and even on TV. Therefore, the ideal scenario would be for a team from a different region to win each year. And by a stroke of luck, that’s exactly how it turned out: 2011—Natus Vincere, 2012—Invictus Gaming, 2013—Alliance, 2014—Newbee, 2015—EG.

When I voiced my theories, arguing that a team couldn’t play that way, or a player couldn’t play that way, and so on, many people simply told me it was just nerves and so on. But I didn’t believe that. In the end, many people started laughing at my comments, and overall, I understand them. But years later, as it turned out, I was right. And my suspicions about the oddities in the games at the International were correct. Generally speaking, you can always find an excuse for anything. A bad performance by the favorite in a regular tournament = yeah, they *** [don’t care], they don’t burn through their bankroll before the main event. They suck at the main event = well, it’s just nerves. And the fact that esports is a total *** [disaster]—nobody even gave it a second thought. And honestly, those were the golden days.

Watching matches used to be genuinely interesting, but now I can’t even remember the last time I turned on any tournament and watched even 50% of it. Not even the Intos.

Now imagine you’re a young Dota prodigy. You’re 15 or 16 years old. You’ve made it to the pro scene and joined a top-tier team. But here’s the catch. In some matches, your teammates play so poorly that you don’t even recognize them. Not necessarily all of them. Maybe just one or two. In today’s reality, there’s nothing you can do about it. Either you’re in the loop and raking in the cash too, or you’re participating in all this without getting paid. I’d guess that not just anyone gets a spot at the trough. Because there’s no point in using all the players. One or two is enough, that’s it. Especially since Dota is super team-oriented these days. The remaining players, realizing *** [horror], are faced with a choice. Either *** [speak up] and try to go against this nonsense, and of course they’ll get their mouths stuffed. Or the smarter ones sit quietly and don’t say a word. Such are the realities of esports. It’s a blast.

How can this be fixed, and what should be done? Essentially, the only way to fix this is for Valve to take full control.

Every year, teams complain and whine that their Dota 2 rosters are unprofitable. But they keep them around anyway. Well, I guess they’re just very kind people. In reality, that’s exactly where the root of these endless 322s lies. Therefore, if teams end up under the leadership of mafia-like figures, there’s simply no chance for competitive Dota.

I don’t know how realistic that is. And I think Valve doesn’t give a damn about Dota or esports in general. But if they don’t take the players and all the tournaments under their wing, nothing will change—it’ll only get worse.