Cover-Credits:
Valve
Dota 2 statistician Ben "Noxville" Steenhuisen has added his voice to the ongoing discussion about the future of Dota 2 esports in response to Peter "ppd" Dager's tweet on 4th October. Ppd tweeted, “Back in 2018, I dreamt of a grander vision for Dota 2 esports. We settled for what Valve offered instead. With the DPC chapter closed, can we seize our true potential this time? Would you back a player-led tournament initiative?“
Furthering this conversation, Noxville has put forward a compelling vision for a Player Union (PU) and the establishment of a central "esports body" to bring forth transparency, fairness, and representation to the Dota 2 competitive scene.
A Flawed Trickle-Down Economy
Noxville's response began with a powerful assertion that Dota 2 has long operated as a "trickle-down economy" despite having the highest prize pools of all esports titles. The prize distribution of the Dota’s prize pool is very inefficient with the top teams receiving most of the share and at the heart of this issue, according to Noxville, is a fundamental problem in the scene's structure and accountability.
Valve's Alleged Centralized Decision-Making and Influence by 'Big Teams'
One of the core issues, according to Noxville, is the extent to which Valve’s decision-making has been concentrated in the hands of a few top players and teams. This concentration has reportedly led to a system optimized primarily for these elite participants and the company itself. Noxville also addressed the historical influence of "big teams" on tournaments, resulting in a limited set of ideals regarding competitive integrity. He suggested that Valve could have played a more active role in steering the scene toward fairness, possibly by revoking Dota 2 Tournament Licenses granted to organizers. The Dota 2 statistician also pointed out numerous instances of unequal treatment, including travel conditions, accommodations, and schedule changes, which have gone unaddressed for years.
The Need for Player Representation
The heart of Noxville's critique lies in the power dynamics within Dota 2 esports. He lamented that these dynamics forced tournament organizers, talent, players, and team organizations to compete rather than collaborate, thus leading to a fragmented ecosystem. Noxville acknowledged previous attempts at forming talent unions but outlined the challenges that thwarted these endeavors. He alleged that there was intervention by some talent, blacklisting of union leaders, and a lack of unified support.
Call For A Multi-Faceted Player Union
Noxville strongly endorsed the idea of a Player Union (PU) but with a unique twist. He suggested a multi-faceted membership system, akin to a labor union, with permanent spots, temporary spots, and broader representation. The PU's primary role would be to establish consistent standards for events. If a tournament organizer fails to meet these criteria, all PU members will refuse to participate. Noxville also argued for the separation of interests, asserting that the Player Union should not be involved in organizing their events to avoid conflicts.
In a bid to prevent conflicts of interest, Noxville proposes that the Player Union should not be directly involved in organizing their own events. Instead, he envisions the creation of a central "Esports Body" for Dota 2. This entity would bring together stakeholders, including the Player Union and Valve, while maintaining separation from event management. The Esports Body would serve as a neutral overseer responsible for ensuring fairness, addressing player representation issues, and overseeing the competitive landscape.
In the midst of these discussions and calls for a reformation, it is evident that the Dota 2 community is at a pivotal juncture. Instances mentioned by Noxville and ppd’s advocacy for a player-led tournament initiative remain a rallying cry for change in the Dota 2 esports industry.
