Dota 2, a series of strategy video games, originated in 2003 with the debut of Defense of the Ancients (DOTA), a fan-created multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, The Frozen Throne. The mod featured gameplay focused on two teams of up to five players controlling individual characters called “heroes,” working together to destroy the enemy’s central base structure known as an “Ancient” to achieve victory. Ownership and development of DotA changed hands multiple times until Valve hired the mod’s lead designer, IceFrog. After a legal dispute with Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Warcraft III, Valve secured the Dota trademark. Valve released the first standalone installment, Dota 2, in July 2013. A direct sequel to DotA, Dota 2 preserves its predecessor’s gameplay while introducing new features, mechanics, and a distinct setting separate from the Warcraft universe. In 2018, Artifact, a digital collectible card game inspired by Dota 2, was launched. Dota Underlords, an auto battler based on the Dota 2 mod Dota Auto Chess, followed in 2020.
The original DotA mod attained immense popularity, boasting tens of millions of players and a significant presence in esports tournaments during the 2000s. It is credited with catalyzing the MOBA genre, inspiring the creation of similar games. Similarly, Dota 2 is lauded as one of the greatest video games, marked by its esports scene characterized by record-breaking prize pools, notably in The International championship. While Valve’s spinoff games generally received positive reception, Artifact faced criticism and dwindling player numbers shortly after release, leading to Valve halting its development.
Dota, a strategic video game series, began in 2003 with Defense of the Ancients (DotA), a fan-made multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, The Frozen Throne. DotA focused on two teams of up to five players controlling unique characters known as “heroes,” collaborating to dismantle the enemy’s main structure, the “Ancient,” for victory. DotA underwent various ownership changes until Valve hired its lead designer, IceFrog, ultimately securing the Dota trademark after a legal dispute with Blizzard Entertainment, the creator of Warcraft III.
Valve launched the standalone sequel, Dota 2, in July 2013, maintaining DotA’s core gameplay while introducing new elements and setting it apart from the Warcraft universe. In 2018, Artifact, a digital card game inspired by Dota 2, debuted, followed by Dota Underlords, an auto battler based on the Dota 2 mod Dota Auto Chess, in 2020.
DotA mod enjoyed immense popularity with millions of players and significant esports tournament presence, credited with pioneering the MOBA genre and inspiring similar games. Similarly, Dota 2 is celebrated as a top-tier video game, renowned for its esports scene featuring record-breaking prize pools, notably in The International championship. Although Valve’s spinoff games generally received positive feedback, Artifact faced criticism and a decline in player numbers post-launch, prompting Valve to discontinue its development.
