There’s finally a bit of exciting news regarding Dota 2 and its 2021 competitive season. Well, at this point, any kind of news will automatically be deemed exciting, given just how silent Valve has been ever since the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm. Fortunately for this venerable developer, such a staggering shift in our daily lives didn’t stop them from setting yet another record with this year’s Battle Pass; Dota’s competitive scene, on the other hand, didn’t get nearly enough attention. It was simply a challenge Valve declined to tackle.  

The fact that third-party organizers and top-tier teams had to scramble and create tournaments out of thin air tells you all you need to know. They’ve done an incredible job, that’s for sure, but it’s impossible to shake off the feeling that Valve basically went AWOL the moment they were most needed. Regardless, let’s focus on the future and what it might entail.

According to the latest developer update, the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit is scheduled to begin on January 18. Valve plans to create six Regional Leagues (akin to what Riot has done with League of Legends), with 16 teams playing across two divisions. The best teams from each region will then qualify for the first Major of the season. That’s pretty much all we know at this point in time, but at least it’s something. Valve has promised a lot more information over the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

A revamped DPC system isn’t the only thing fans and players should be excited about — there’s also a brand-new Dota 2 hero on the horizon, and she’ll ship to live servers before 2021! Although Valve initially promised a late November release, they’ve given out a short update saying that “she needs a bit more time to cozy up for the winter.” As a result, her release has been pushed to mid-December along with the 7.28 gameplay update!