Insania and N0tail Discuss Battle Pass Removal Affecting TI12

In a recent episode of the Monkey Business podcast, professional Dota 2 player Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi was present as the special guest and spoke to Johan "N0tail" Sundstein about many topics. One of the things the duo talked about was the implications of Valve removing the Battle Pass for The International 12 (TI12).

The two talked about how there will probably be a smaller prize pool at TI12 this year due to the missing Battle Pass as well as a decrease in the competitive spirit centered around the event.

The Battle Pass comes around every year shortly before The International as a purchasable item that comes with a variety of rewards, including immortals, arcanas, weather effects, and more.

“I’m expecting the prize pool to be much smaller, maybe between $5-$10 Million on a good day” - iNSaNiA

In the podcast, Insania opened up about his inability to not fully understand the long-term impact the specific changes will have on the Dota 2 scene, referring to the removal of Battle Pass from this year’s TI. He also displays some regret about not being able to peak in his Dota 2 career sooner. 

“I feel like I'm usually really bad when it comes to like these big updates and what they mean for the bigger picture. But when I read it I obviously felt like damn you know like we missed our time, should have peaked sooner and then like you know all the regrets about staying at home came, like should have maybe switched earlier,” Insania said.

He goes on to talk about the prize pool of TI12 being smaller this year due to the missing Battle Pass, placing his estimation at around $5-10 Million USD. The player also hopes that Valve’s plan moving forward is better for all parties involved.

“Obviously I expect the prize pool to be much smaller, maybe between 5 to 10 million on a good day. I’m not really sure but that would be my guess, which kind of sucks in a way but also who knows, because they make so much money off the battle pass and I feel like they wouldn't want to say no to it. So hopefully whatever they have in mind is a decent replacement, at least something that they would be happy with and hopefully something that we can be happy with. But yeah, the initial impression was like kind of a blow to the gut,” he added.

N0tail had his own thoughts on the matter, but he did mention that Valve’s move kills the spirit of competition moving forward for The International events.

“I think that kind of kills the spirit of competition right because we're always trying to push a boundary so unless we're saying that we reached a wall or ceiling, I think it kind of sucks you know,” he said.

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The Battle Pass has been a staple for the Dota 2 community leading up to The International while being a major contributor to the massive prize pool that is gathered for the event. Valve’s recent decision to discontinue the Battle Pass was met with disappointment from the community. However, the commitment to a special event before TI and fun content for fans throughout the year is one positive point that players can look forward to. Moving forward, only time will tell whether Valve’s bold decision will pay off and the community will be satisfied with the new changes.