Here’s how much money Valve took out of The International 2023

The prize pool for Dota 2’s The International 2022 saw a sharp decline last year, but 2023’s TI12 could be the worst it’s seen in the past decade.

In previous years, The International’s prize pool was largely crowdfunded through the sale of a yearly TI Battle Pass, with 25% of the revenue going into the event. This year, Valve has done away with the Battle Pass entirely and has no apparent intention of bringing it back. Instead, the company has shifted to a piecemeal content delivery scheme with the stated aim of offering greater diversity and player choice throughout the calendar.

Sales of The Compendium and related in-game content still contribute to TI12’s prize pool. However, this strategy is positioned to make this year’s installment of The International the smallest one seen in a long time.

How much money will be in the TI12 prize pool?

The prize pool for The International 2023 could be less than $5 million.

To put that into context, this year will have the lowest prize pool of any The International in the last 10 years if projections prove accurate. The largest pool occurred in 2021 for TI10, which had a prize pool of over $40 million. Last year’s TI11 saw a steep drop, coming in under $19 million for more than a 50% decline. This stemmed from Valve shifting the battle pass’ schedule to extend more than a month beyond the event, with none of the money coming in after going to the players.

If the under-$5 million projection for TI12 is accurate, it will be the lowest since The International 2013 which paid players $2,874,380. The International 2014 prize pool was $10,923,977.

The steep drop is likely worrying to pro players and others within the Dota 2 esports scene. Over recent years, the game has seen a majority of the money that changes hands flow through The International. This has seen most esports organizations and tournament organizers either leave the game or never actually get into it in the first place.

The company has repeatedly reassured the pro player that it remains invested in Dota 2 esports before the TI12 Compendium’s release. The limited rewards available in the compendium and the resulting lack of player interest may suggest otherwise, however.

What is the biggest Dota 2 event?

Riyadh Masters 2023 will likely be the biggest Dota 2 event of the year, based on its prize pool.

This means Valve will likely be letting the Saudi Arabian government run the biggest Dota 2 events each year. The International has long dominated the Dota 2 esports scene, but this year could see that prestigious status revoked.

Given the company has also killed the Dota Pro Circuit, Dota 2 esports don’t seem to rank very highly on its list of priorities.