With the Reborn update hitting Dota 2 a few weeks ago, you’d expect the playerbase for Valve’s MOBA to surge higher than ever. An update to bring Source 2 to the game, along with a whole new UI and a bunch of other cool tricks… who wouldn’t want to play that? A lot less people it seems, because the number of people diving into Dota 2 has dropped by a whopping 16%.
Though the game is nowhere near being dead, obviously. Still, almost 100,000 people chose not to play Dota 2 during the month of September, which is quite a significant drop (Steam Charts via VG247):
It’s not uncommon to see the MOBA losing players every now and then, but as you can see, the following months usually yield a healthy growth. September however, represents the largest drop the game has seen for a very, very long time.
The reasoning for this is pretty obvious – the Reborn Update. Yes, it launched as a means to make Dota 2 more modern and more shiny. Unfortunately, it came packed with a healthy dose of nasty bugs. This is sad really, as Valve had Reborn in beta for a good few months. Surely that would’ve given them ample time to fine tune everything before release? Apparently not.
Then again, maybe some people are just over Dota 2 following the conclusion of this year’s International. Believe it or not, I’ve played the game myself a only a handful of times over the past few weeks. For some reason, my addiction has waned. This is not due to the Reborn Update – i lost that addictive spark long before it was released.
That’s just me though. Perhaps many still enjoy a good clicking session, and things will swing around to be green once a good few millions bugs have been squashed. What do you think? Are you still a big fan of Dota 2, or has the shoddy Reborn launch chased you away for good?
Last Updated: October 1, 2015
HairyEwok
October 1, 2015 at 14:04
Main reason why I didn’t play is because I couldn’t play, the servers are a mess. You find a game then have to wait 5+ minutes just to get a server.
Nich Hustler
October 1, 2015 at 15:51
This seems to have come right by the way. I was having hour long waits at one point. But now it all seems quick again.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
October 1, 2015 at 14:04
http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/turkey-coma1.gif
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
October 1, 2015 at 14:07
Isn’t that Ashe in the header? But that’s a LoL character.
Pariah
October 1, 2015 at 14:12
Drow Ranger. Definitely a Dota2 hero.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
October 1, 2015 at 14:22
my fire starting skills are getting rusty xD
SargonTheRebornBatpanda
October 1, 2015 at 14:23
Looks more like a Total War Cretan Archer to me, tbh. All bones. No flesh. Psssht.
Pariah
October 1, 2015 at 14:27
The only “Cretan” here is you.
SargonTheRebornBatpanda
October 1, 2015 at 14:29
Thank you for the compliment!
Pariah
October 1, 2015 at 14:43
You are most welcome, fleshless being.
hairyknees
October 1, 2015 at 14:13
Drow Ranger 🙂 Ashe is very similar though
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
October 1, 2015 at 14:21
huehuehue
hairyknees
October 1, 2015 at 14:24
Oh you beat me to it xD thanks friend!
The Sten
October 1, 2015 at 14:15
No, its definitley thorn from Battleborne
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
October 1, 2015 at 14:22
This guy gets it xD
HvR
October 1, 2015 at 14:55
Is Thorn a Thai lady-boy?
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 15:06
Love you long time?
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 1, 2015 at 14:13
…
hairyknees
October 1, 2015 at 14:14
🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 1, 2015 at 14:19
huehuehue
SargonTheRebornBatpanda
October 1, 2015 at 14:22
SAY IT AINT SO, MATTHEW MCDOTANAY!
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 14:30
Good
😛
Galbedir
October 1, 2015 at 14:36
I feel bad now, I was one of the 100000 who never played in September, unfortunately due to Deadlines, I’m loving the new Source 2 engine and UI.
Forc3ofWill
October 1, 2015 at 14:50
DotA 2 brings more disappointment into your life than dating and selling life insurance combined.
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 15:06
Now that is terrible, damn good analogy actually!
Frik van der Hewerskink
October 1, 2015 at 15:15
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS MASTER RACE
CypherGate
October 1, 2015 at 15:23
Tried Dota. Not a fan. Also seeing so much news about Dota felt it was the equivalent to playing the game everyday until you get bored of it.
Nich Hustler
October 1, 2015 at 15:51
This article is misleading. Based on the numbers shown Dota actually has quite a large fluctuation level that goes up and down and then tends toward retention. Seemed it had a surge during the International and then waned afterwards, that would make sense since this was the biggest community supported international.
I feel like this article writer just doesn’t know how to read numbers and interpret them through relevant context.
hairyknees
October 1, 2015 at 16:37
I did not mean for it to be misleading at all 🙂
“It’s not uncommon to see the MOBA losing players every now and then, but as you can see, the following months usually yield a healthy growth. September however, represents the largest drop the game has seen for a very, very long time.”
I’m not wrong in saying that. September 2015 has the lowest average player count for the whole of 2015. The last month to have a figure lower than that is October 2014.
I’m pretty sure once all the Reborn bugs have been sorted out, the player count will swing upward again 🙂
Nich Hustler
October 2, 2015 at 15:00
While technically not wrong it’s without the caveat that August was the largest count since February, anyway the numbers are there. Overall it’s the article title that makes it misleading and inflammatory. But I suppose Dota2 had it’s biggest fluctuation in player base is a lot less click bait.
Anyway no judgement, just rubbed me the wrong away about a community I’m part of is all. Never read an article on this website before and was literally click baited by the title only to find the information and the title not quite in sync.
string_slinger
October 1, 2015 at 17:20
Simple explanation – all the supports quit after the 6.85 patch…;)
Seriously tho, the TI Compendium ran for a long time this year. I think guys were just over-played, I know I was. Still enjoy DOTA, new Source 2 version is great despite launch niggles (mostly local server based – could find game instantly in EU regions), just having a bit of post TI detox time at the moment.