Even after countless years, Valve’s MOBA, Dota 2, is still one of the biggest games out there, with new players constantly joining the battle.
To most, Valve's Dota 2 is a name synonymous with many things, including massive prize pools and crazy plays. However, for many, the game is shrouded in confusion, and who can blame them?
With 126 heroes to choose from, all with their own builds, characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, there is a lot to unpack when it comes to the game. With that in mind, we answer the age-old question of what Dota 2 is, and why Valve’s MOBA has survived for this long without faltering.
Valve’s MOBA: Dota 2 explained
In essence, it can be easy to explain Dota 2 and what the game is, but various nuances come into play. First, and foremost, we need to decipher the MOBA genre before taking a trip down memory lane to discover the game’s beginnings. Then, finally, we can unpack Dota 2, Valve’s massive leap into the game, and what it has become over its lengthy lifespan.
MOBA? Hardly know ‘er!
The term “MOBA” is simple to decipher. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. This genre of gaming has been around since at least 1998. Created originally as a custom map in StarCraft, which would be deemed Aeon of Strife by Gunner_4_ever. This laid all the groundwork for Defense of the Ancients (DotA), which was based on the aforementioned map but within the Warcraft III title. These games, and many others, led the way for the MOBA genre to excel, giving us Dota 2 many years later.
Where did Dota 2 come from?
The history of Dota 2 begins way back in 2003 with DotA. With a convoluted past, in which the game went through multiple developers, Dota 2 was born. With Blizzard Entertainment not putting much into its modding community, Valve stepped up to take the original title to a new level. IceFrog jumped at the opportunity to move the game to the Source Engine in 2009, and by 2011, it was a fully-fledged stand-alone title.
While the game did not release out of a huge open beta until 2013, Valve (and IceFrog) put in the effort to make something special. Fast forward to 2025, and we have a game that has changed but still gives the same feelings as it did back in 2003.
What is Dota 2?
From the brief history above, we know that Dota 2 is Valve’s stand-alone MOBA sequel to DotA. The game itself, as with any MOBA title, sees two teams of five fighting on a map that contains various elements. In Dota 2, this includes three separate lanes, jungle camps, a boss called Roshan, and a lot more. When it comes to the map, it is split diagonally through the centre by a crossable “river”, with The Radiant residing on the lower left side and The Dire on the upper right corner.
When it comes to Dota 2, there is a very high learning curve. Although the basics of a MOBA can be quite easy to grasp for a newcomer, the game has various difficulties that are not as simple. “Last hitting” is something known to most MOBA players, but Dota 2 brings in “denying” too. Teams need to work together far more often on points of interest. These include Shrines of Wisdom, Outposts, stacked jungle camps, and Runes. Any tiny mistake can lead to the enemy snowballing into disastrous circumstances. Going deeper, players can master pulling and stacking jungle camps, as well as prime ward positioning.
In essence, Dota 2 is the pinnacle of the genre, with updates released constantly to keep things balanced. While there are a host of different titles in the same genre, only a few have stood the test of time. With 15 years of development, changes, and tweaks behind it, Dota 2 continues to reign supreme amongst the biggest games out there.
Will there be a Dota 3?
Simply, no. Or, not any time soon, if the past is anything to go on.
15 years is a very long time span for any game to remain popular. For Dota, with its beginnings in 2003, many might want an updated game. However, when it comes to the MOBA genre, not much can change. In 2015, the game became Valve's first to move to the Source 2 Engine. That may be 10 years in the past, but it has not been something that is a problem.
In the same vein as any Valve game, we must also bring up the number “3”. Valve has never been known to release a third game in a series. Half Life, Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress, and Portal have all been stuck at 2 for many years. And it is unlikely that Dota will be the first to jump to 3. However, when it comes to MOBA games, this is not as much of an issue. With no major story to be told, Dota 2 can continue to update and stay relevant. (But can we please have Half-Life 2: Episode 3, Valve?)
Now that you know what Dota 2 is, everyone can join in the fun. This includes having your teammates shout at you for dying in mid-lane because your support did not ward.
At the end of the day, the MOBA genre has two extremely strong contenders, on PC at least. But there are many titles within the genre, including Smite, Heroes of the Storm, and Pokémon Unite. Each title in the genre has its own strengths, but there is nothing compared to the exhilaration of Dota 2.
With everything said, players are beginning to grow weary as we have less to look forward to each year. As October passes by, we still constantly beg for Diretide to make its return. At least we have Frostivus to look forward to… right?
