In a recent interview conducted during DreamLeague Season 21, Quinn Callahan from Gaimin Gladiators (GG) provided some promising insights into the future of competitive Dota 2, which he believes is poised for positive changes.
Quinn has played a pivotal role in GG’s historic season, achieving the remarkable feat of winning all Dota 2 Majors in a single year. Despite this extraordinary success, even he had grown weary of the existing competitive system.
Initially, many Dota 2 fans were skeptical about the changes in the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). However, Quinn expressed his enthusiasm for this shift, believing it will breathe new life into the game’s competitive scene.
During the Dexerto interview, Quinn acknowledged that while the DPC had been successful in various ways, it had its share of flaws. He pointed out instances where teams invited based on DPC points did not perform as expected at The International. This had been one of the main arguments in favor of retaining the DPC, but Quinn believes that both systems have their imperfections.
“I feel both systems have flaws in terms of the accuracy of the invites,” Quinn remarked. “For the tier-one pro scene, having no DPC will probably be better. I think most people were sort of sick of the DPC.”
The star mid laner also highlighted the staleness of the competitive scene, noting that “the best teams in the world are from Europe,” which essentially turned each DPC season into a “mini-TI” with the same teams repeatedly vying for top spots at Majors.
In addition to concerns about invitations, Quinn is looking forward to the potential for more diverse and exciting tournaments. He envisions a scenario where teams can choose events based on their readiness, leading to a mix-and-match of teams that would create a more engaging competitive environment. In 2023, Dota 2 fans primarily witnessed GG and Team Liquid competing in multiple Major finals, and Quinn believes that with pro teams occasionally skipping events due to burnout or other reasons, other teams could flourish, leading to a more dynamic Dota 2 ecosystem.
As the anticipation for The International 2023 grows, the Dota 2 community eagerly awaits news about the replacement for the TI12 battle pass. This update could potentially introduce a visual novel, new Arcanas, and shed light on the competitive scene’s direction heading into the 2024 season.
While there have been no official announcements from Valve or tournament organizers regarding the future of the scene, ESL is already preparing for Dota 2’s next $1 million tournament, scheduled to take place two months after TI12.