Home Gaming Hey Valve, when is the next Dota 2 patch due?

Hey Valve, when is the next Dota 2 patch due?

4 min read
47

Dota 2

There’s no denying it – I love Dota 2. The last balance patch though, 6.83 (the shifting snows update), which was released towards the end of December last year, has left me cold. I’ve been playing my favourite MOBA far less. Now, I don’t think this is due exclusively to that particular patch, but it does seem to be around the time when things started getting a little boring, at least for me anyways. I feel that the current meta is “stale”, and I don’t think I am alone in feeling this way. Is it not yet time for the next big gameplay change that will keep things fresh?

The reason I’m asking is because I was forwarded this Reddit post yesterday by a friend (thanks Wesley). What the post says coincides almost a little too perfectly with the conversations my friends and I have been having recently ourselves:

I’ve noticed that tons of my friends have sort of just stopped playing since 6.83. A lot of people complained about the rubberband mechanics, or the stale meta, and I think that happens every patch. However what I’ve noticed is a huge non-vocal group of players just kind of got bored of the game. I think it has to with the fact it’s extremely hard for a good player to snowball hard and carry a game unless you’re playing troll / jugg / storm / etc. I’ve noticed that if you snowball hard early, unless you can push high ground solo, there’s really not much you can do. It’s extremely difficult to play an effective ganker mid or support in pubs.

I think this led to more boring pub games, and myself included, have slowly just lost interest in the game. I think that the patch is worse than people think- not because of the complaints, but because of the lack of them. I think a lot of people have just gotten bored and moved on. I would be really interested to see how many players with accounts over a year old have dropped off from playing compared to a similar timespan rolling over the past 2 years.

Reading through the comments has yielded some interesting responses. Surprisingly, many people agree that they and their friends have grown distant to Dota 2. Some even go so far as to post their Dotabuff pages, showing how their activity has dipped a lot over the past few months. Here’s an example.

Dipped

A larger dot represents a higher frequency of played games on that particular day. See how this gamer has a very full Dota 2 schedule? It tapers off noticeably around August last year. Why, he or she has only played 9 games over the past 3 months. My own activity sheet is showing some cracks, especially over the last few weeks. Why though? I feel it has a lot to do with this “stale” meta.

I cannot tell you how much I’ve grown to resent playing pub games. I accept invites reluctantly most of the time now  – instantly regretting my decision over an hour later when the game has developed into a farmfest where nothing actually happens until right at the end. Most games culminate into one decisive fight which determines whether you win the game or not. I honestly think I’ve played more 70+ minute long games in the last 4 months than I have in my entire time playing Dota 2 before that (that’s almost 2.5 years now).

Every role seems to grind to a dull existence past the 15 minute mark. Supporting for example boils down to warding and doing little past that, because team fights aren’t happening nearly as frequently as they used to. Cores spend most of their time split-pushing non-stop, or farming in the jungle forever.

Look at this team doing nothing while their carry farms hard

I seriously miss the last meta which felt more like it was all about pushing. Games were done within 40 minutes more often than not, and that time was filled with frantic activity – whether it be pushing down a tower, sneaking a Rosh, or engaging in epic team fights.

I don’t know what Valve (or IceFrog) can do to remedy this current situation, but I do feel that a huge balance patch is long overdue. Maybe they are hard at work on an engine change, or the remaining heroes that need porting from the original Warcraft III mod. Whatever it is, I hope they release it soon.

Knowing the Dota 2 community, there is a very high chance that many of you will disagree wholeheartedly with what I have said. That’s fine, I expect it because I know each one of us plays the game differently, or enjoy specific aspects which this meta may highlight. I genuinely am interested to hear your opinion, so please feel free to let lose in the comments below. Are you still enjoying this meta, or have you, like myself, moved your attention to other games?

Last Updated: April 16, 2015

47 Comments

  1. Played 1 game in the last month …
    I agree with you fully :O

    Reply

  2. Admiral Chief asked for this

    April 16, 2015 at 15:10

    In related cabbage news….look out for JJ’s apron and hat pic at 16h00 today!

    Reply

  3. Gavin Mannion

    April 16, 2015 at 15:10

    I tried.. .I couldn’t read this article… DOTA 2 sucks…

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 16, 2015 at 15:11

      Trolling for comments I see? 😛

      The game is ok, the community on the other hand…….

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        April 16, 2015 at 15:21

        since it’s an online multiplayer game the community is the game

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 16, 2015 at 15:24

          Ag you can still play the training levels or against bots your know 😛

          Reply

          • Moik

            April 16, 2015 at 23:00

            Yeah, or rotate the tires on my car. Maybe mow the lawn?

            I can think of more rewarding chores to do.

      • Scruff304

        April 17, 2015 at 07:34

        Agreed. I love me some, but it getting hard and hard to join solo games. If I am not part of a stack or private lobby, get a bit meh.

        Reply

      • Moss

        April 17, 2015 at 13:49

        I fail to see the issue with the community? http://dotacouch.tumblr.com/

        Reply

    • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

      April 16, 2015 at 15:17

      Mad cause bad 😛

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 16, 2015 at 15:18

        Ignored because bored.

        Reply

        • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

          April 16, 2015 at 15:19

          Hahahaha! Definitely would not say DOTA is for everyone. Each to his own.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            April 16, 2015 at 15:19

            XD

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      April 16, 2015 at 15:21

      Reading a DOTA article is like trying to read the assembly instructions for something made in China.

      Reply

  4. Blood Emperor Trevor

    April 16, 2015 at 15:15

    hur hur snowball. Clearly that means something different in DOTA.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      April 16, 2015 at 15:16

      Bwahahaha

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 16, 2015 at 15:16

      Ewwwwwwwwwww

      Reply

  5. Kromas is drunk with power!

    April 16, 2015 at 15:36

    I would rather at this point play HoTS and even then that is pushing it. I think people are just getting tired of MOBA games.

    It is time for the RTS genre to burst from it seams I think.

    Reply

  6. Dutch Matrix

    April 16, 2015 at 15:36

    The Sims. Yes. The Sims.

    Reply

  7. ChelloZA

    April 16, 2015 at 15:43

    Over the last few years I have been investigating HairyKnees and his activity on the dota scene and all his secrets meetings. I’ve always had this hunch that he has been hiding a big secret from the world, but after reading this article I can confirm my studies to the world. HairyKnees is Icefrog and on other news… HALF LIFE 3 CONFIRMED

    Reply

    • Bob Dolan!

      April 16, 2015 at 15:50

      Icefrog wrote an article asking Icefrog when there would be a new patch? #meta

      Reply

  8. caponeil

    April 16, 2015 at 15:44

    I now only play 30h a week compared to 40h before this patch! 🙂

    Reply

  9. caponeil

    April 16, 2015 at 15:45

    I have actually reverted to my Smurf account just to have some fun and try “silly builds”

    Reply

  10. Pariah

    April 16, 2015 at 15:49

    I agree 100%. I’ve even stopped watching pro dota, because it’s always the same picks and bans, and you’re basically watching the same game over and over again. First bans are troll, axe, sniper, io. Then first pick venge or tree. Often followed by a decent mid – SF or Storm. Second bans are supports, if lion isn’t banned he’s picked. Offlane is bla bla bla. Same game, every time.

    I’m bored to shit. I agree. Last patch was about early and mid-game aggression heroes. Hell, 6.81 I’d seen rax in 15 minutes, and gg sub 15 happened every 10 or so games, with no game going on longer than 35 minutes. If you picked a late game carry such as AM or Dusa, you were punished, hard.

    Volvo, pls fix.

    Reply

    • caponeil

      April 16, 2015 at 15:52

      Cloud 9 vs SFZ is everything wrong with Dota atm (200+ minutes). Then again, are Dota players EVER happy with the Meta?

      Reply

      • Pariah

        April 16, 2015 at 15:54

        I watched that game. Back and forth. Action for 2 minutes, farming for 10. Repeat. For almost 3 hours. Or was it just over 3? Bah.

        Reply

        • caponeil

          April 16, 2015 at 15:56

          At least enjoyed Purge and ODPixel!

          Reply

          • Pariah

            April 16, 2015 at 15:57

            ODPixel was awesome. And I think that game put him on the map as a caster. He’s really good, that was definitely the one plus side. 😀

      • Matthew Holliday

        April 16, 2015 at 16:13

        no, thats the point, they balance it so that certain stuff is overpowered.
        big patches arent for balance, theyr meant to destablise.

        the last patch didnt overpower certain things to the same extent as it used to, couple that with a meta that is now ancient, games are clinical and boring.

        Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      April 16, 2015 at 15:53

      WTF did you just say????

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        April 16, 2015 at 15:55

        Who knows? I’m still trying to find no.4 screw that go for part 6.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          April 16, 2015 at 15:56

          There are plenty screws loose with you man, you may need to pay attention to more than just the one. 😀

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 16, 2015 at 15:59

            That’s what I was talking about. :/

          • Pariah

            April 16, 2015 at 15:59

            Ah. Well carry on then, squire.

        • Dutch Matrix

          April 16, 2015 at 16:03

          Screw that. Going to screw just one.

          http://cdn.rsvlts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Stacey-Poole.jpg

          Gods I need help…

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 16, 2015 at 16:05

            Meh. Unless she wants to co-op D:OS with me, I’m not interested.

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 16, 2015 at 16:07

            D:OS. Gods man! You are starting to sound like assembly instructions for something made in China! 😛

    • Sgt. M

      April 16, 2015 at 16:09

      Am i the only one who sees Volvo?

      Reply

      • Pariah

        April 16, 2015 at 16:09

        Nope. But now I know you don’t doto, so gtfo scrub 😀

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 16, 2015 at 16:10

      you’ll see alot of 15 minute “ggs” in the build up to TI5.
      happens every year.

      Reply

  11. Bob Dolan!

    April 16, 2015 at 15:51

    This could be the reason why I find myself playing more and more LoL and less Dota… I just don’t find it is exciting anymore, and I agree with this article. Wake up Volvo!

    Reply

  12. Joe Black

    April 16, 2015 at 16:09

    I will agree that historically strong pushers seem to be playing less of a role – As pushers.

    Reply

  13. Matthew Holliday

    April 16, 2015 at 16:09

    pro scene gets people excited and this meta just isnt exciting to watch. but what do you expect from such an old patch?
    2nd last patch befor a TI is always super delayed though, so much to consider.
    slowing things down so they can start building the hype up to Ti5.
    looking and trying to predict how its going to affect TI and what changes they could impliment for the one after to make for an exciting TI.

    ive been putting tourny replays on when i cant sleep, because that shit always makes me drop off super fast lately.

    Reply

  14. equivilency

    April 17, 2015 at 01:45

    Don’t fix, what isn’t broken.

    Have you ever thought that maybe you just got tired of the game? I guarantee the bean counters would have taken notice if people were leaving in droves.

    Reply

  15. forteX24

    April 17, 2015 at 05:37

    6.84 is coming after Starladder, icefrog confirmed on the dev forums. http://i.imgur.com/DZKl0Xs.png

    Reply

  16. Brendyn Zachary

    April 17, 2015 at 14:36

    Nice change from the “New Patch Incoming” articles I’ve seen all day. I do agree the meta has been stagnant lately and there’s quite literally no room for pocket strats.

    Reply

  17. Pur!Fier

    April 19, 2015 at 10:13

    Hmmm I know where you are coming from. I’ve had this issue with the patch as well. But instead of succumbing to the stale meta I’ve tried to change things up, at least on my own terms. I’ve tried playing more distant characters like enigma and leshrac these days to spice up games. both heroes are greatly underestimated in my opinion and usually i win my games because people have either forgotten about them, or the synergy between me and team mates just work well in the end. I too though feel the meta is stale in the sense that heroes such as sniper and troll have been elevated. I personally dont like those heroes myself and never play them, and dealing with them is both annoying and satisfying (nothing says “fuck that character” as good as fingering him with Lion). Hopefully the new patch will at least bring some more interesting heroes to the meta. Storm is fun to watch, but a bit of Dragon Knight or something would be fun to spectate. At least Lina becoming a strong mid laner sits well with me, too bad it came at the cost of tinker not being able to farm ancients anymore 🙁

    Reply

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