The emergence of the internet in our daily lives has meant that video gaming has been able to explore a vast new range of previously unexplored possibilities. Within this wide umbrella of possibilities, several genres and a cluster of games within each genre have risen to the top of the pile and generated international recognition.
Digital platforms have been able to ride the wave of mass digital adoption over the last decade, from the exponential rise in the number of cheap mobile devices that could access the internet quickly to fusing old ideas with the new and projecting them onto smartphones, laptops, and other fresh interfaces.
The gambling industry was arguably the first within the wide world of gaming to make a dent in this market and showed that the future was indeed digital. Online gambling quickly became the main method where people played; it became cheaper, with no costs incurred in the same manner as traveling to a land-based casino or betting provider.
Whether you are gambling USA style or accessing an online gambling platform, the whole industry has streamlined itself to work smoother online. This change in societal temperature has also led to the rise of games like Dota 2 recognizing their full potential, but what has driven this interest specifically?
The Rise Of eSports
We can’t discuss Dota 2’s incredible rise without discussing the boost it’s received from its popularity and legitimacy within the world of professional video gaming.
Dota 2 sits alongside some of the most revered games in the world of eSports, and the astonishing numbers it’s been able to generate, ranging from audience numbers who are streaming tournaments to watch online to the prize pools that are some of the biggest the industry has witnessed in its history, have helped to continue generating intrigue and success on a global scale. Such high demand and eye-catching prize pools bring in the top professional gamers, who are attracted by the money that is on offer.
Not all video games have the eSports crossover appeal that Dota 2 does, though. Valve had played a masterclass by bottling up this market and accommodating the demand from gamers online.
Sports games like FIFA and even Call of Duty in the early 2010s seemed nailed-on to become some of the biggest eSports markets, but as the market matured and started to move toward online battle arena games as the dominant genre in eSports, it was games like League of Legends and Dota 2 that crystalized at the top of the industry. The idea that professional video gaming tournaments would be selling out stadiums is an idea that many in the industry would’ve significantly doubted, even as little as 15 years ago.
However, Dota 2 has been the game that has switched this belief quickly, and the eSports tournaments it sells out all over the world are a prime example of that.
Online Community Strength
Although many games have a passionate and engaged online community, Dota 2 has a colossal number of streamers, influencers, and online guides, all of which help generate activity and grow organic communities.
This has helped the game grow and appeal to large areas of the international gaming community, so the right gamers have been targeted. They have been able to harness and push the growth via a range of social media channels, from YouTube to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Gaming Quality
To be one of the most popular games in the world, it certainly helps to have gameplay that rewards people who play it consistently and constantly churns out new ideas. Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 100 million copies, but its continued success came from its ability to churn out new ideas for those who played online and to sell in-game items and updates.
This approach was pioneered by battle arena games like Dota 2 and League of Legends, which implemented this idea as a huge part of their original design. Although Dota 2 came out in 2013, the constant revamps to characters, ideas, and in-game purchases help it retain its freshness and gaming quality, which is clearly the biggest upside for millions of people who play it on a daily basis.
Conclusion
As with so many popular games, a large chunk of Dota 2’s success has stemmed from the foundation of strong fundamentals: an innovative gaming idea, a loyal fanbase, a colossal prize pool, and a community that continues to keep the game in the wider conversation on social media.
Of course, the emergence of the eSports league and its success have resulted in another level of popularity and potential, but excellent playability and a loyal community are crucial, too. It’s a multi-faceted success story, but it’s one that has cemented itself right at the pinnacle of the gaming world and is likely to remain there for many years to come.
Image Credit: Pixabay
