After hinting at some big new for months, developer Valve made a huge announcement today regarding eSports and their upcoming title Dota 2. At this year’s Gamescom in Cologne, Germany (August 17th -21st), Valve will be showing off Dota 2 to the public for the first time. To top that off, 16 of the world’s best Dota teams have been invited to participate in a tournament with a $1 million dollar first place prize.
Dubbed The International, the Dota 2 tournament will feature “a group stage, double elimination playoff format over the course of Cologne’s five-day trade show.” If you can’t make it to Gamescom, don’t feel too bad. A free live stream of the tournament will be provided by Valve.
The teams participating are:
Europe
GGnet
MYM
NeVo
Na’Vi
OK.Nirvana.Int
Moscow 5
China
CCM
LGD
Tyloo
EHOME
OK.Nirvana.cn
South-East Asia
MiTh.Trust
StarsBoba
Scythe
MUFC
MI.Asus
Gabe Newell, president and founder of Valve, stated: “The International is the first public Dota 2 event and will give the tens of millions of gamers playing Dota around the world their first look at the new game. I have had the good fortune to watch the competitors as they prepare for the tournament, and the level of play is extraordinary.”
This is huge news considering this is Valve’s first venture into eSports since Counter-Stirke. Hopefully The International will go off without a hitch and the MOBA community will embrace Dota 2, that way Valve has some incentive to continue supporting eSports.