Gamescom 2011

DOTA 2 full launch delayed to 2012, beta soon

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Valve confirms tactical action game will likely be out early next year; invitation-only test phase coming shortly, open trial also planned.

Gamescom 2011 has served as a coming-out party of sorts for Valve's Defense of the Ancients 2, and the studio is backing the game's first public showing with The International, a tournament boasting a top prize of $1 million. More than just showing off its newest property, though, Valve has also delivered some good news and some not-so-good news concerning DOTA 2.

Expect DOTA 2 to leave beta early next year.

Expect DOTA 2 to leave beta early next year.

To the good, Valve has confirmed for GameSpot that it will launch a by-invitation beta-test phase for DOTA 2 shortly after the Gamescom tournament concludes this week. The beta-test pool will be pulled from those registered for Steam accounts. Valve also plans to offer an open beta-test phase at an unspecified time thereafter.

As for the not-so-good news, Valve has said that it is looking increasingly unlikely that DOTA 2 will see wide release in 2011, as was originally planned. Speaking to GameSpot, company cofounder and managing director Gabe Newell said DOTA 2 is now expected to be available in early 2012.

Check back later for GameSpot's full interview with Newell. GameSpot also has a live broadcast of The International, as well as archived footage of the lucrative tournament.

GameSpot's Maxwell McGee talks with Gabe Newell in this video interview for Dota 2 at Gamescome 2011

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

35 Comments

  • mattg90520

    Posted Aug 22, 2011 8:18 am GMT

    Why does this news, Valve delaying a game, not surprise me? Did somebody make another Gabe Newell fat joke?

  • Sigil-otaku

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 5:50 am GMT

    My opinion is DOTA 2 had to be delayed, there's only 2 choices they could go with and that is to release the game as is with minimal work needed to make it complete and just tweak the animations and sound (plenty have commented it needed a little extra work on animations and sound such as destroying the main building not having any animation at all and it just disappearing) or they can actually do something with it. Lets face it, the game hasn't moved on from DOTA in any meaningful way. The first MOBA by a huge company is just an almost identical but graphically improved iteration with a few more features? Not a great show at all. HoN practically does this anyway just with better (although a completely different style to be fair) graphics, a cleaner HUD and being further into it's life it also has more characters to pick from. Equipment is pretty much the same due to it being a very similar game. For me though I'm a bigger fan of League of Legends, it's not as hardcore but it's a better game in my opinion that actually differentiates itself with getting rid of bad mechanics like denying (simply slows down the game and creates more minion wave micro management) and adds brush for some added strategy. The games more fun and champion focused (ie less minion farming) and since I play a game to fight others that makes sense. It's more intuitive when it comes to last hitting and far more unique feeling and varied characters in my opinion (like Orianna, Amumu, Skarner and Shaco).

  • BigAl519

    Posted Aug 20, 2011 7:03 am GMT

    lol didnt even know there was a DOTA 1.

  • TehCheater

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 11:44 am GMT

    what the hell is steam thinking making a tournament with a million dollar price with crappy commentators/camera man, lag everywhere, late replays with no commentators and lots of technical problems of a game that hasn't even been released.

  • Blueresident87

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 10:56 am GMT

    I really enjoyed playing DOTA with the Warcraft III community back in the day. As for this being delayed, I'll be so caught up with all the games coming out in the next 3 months to even care...

  • Yajarobi

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 8:44 am GMT

    LoL ftw

  • Davo-C posted Aug 19, 2011 4:41 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Davo-C

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 4:41 am GMT (hide)

    Very disappointing, expected much more from Valve, sticking to HoN thanks.

  • ecurl143

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 3:18 am GMT

    Too many awesome games available soon to even worry about this.

  • Lazy_Marine posted Aug 19, 2011 2:02 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Lazy_Marine

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 2:02 am GMT (hide)

    Why russian accent makes no sense, v cartoonish game , rubbish

  • Lazy_Marine posted Aug 19, 2011 2:01 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Lazy_Marine

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 2:01 am GMT (hide)

    lol rubbish CGi with rubbish animations and garbage soundtrack, WOW Cgi intro wannabe

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 12:24 am GMT

    Classic Valve!

  • BrideInDream

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 11:30 pm GMT

    nooooo.. why do you do this valve!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 10:48 pm GMT

    I signed up for the beta, heres hoping I get in

  • syafiqjabar

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 8:51 pm GMT

    @stailcookie

    They changed how those heroes look, enough so that there will be no copyright infringement.

  • s4dn3s5

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 8:06 pm GMT

    Come on Valve, the game is finished... We saw it! You can adjust the balance just like Icefrog is doing with the first Dota after the release, I really can't believe you need nothing short than 6 more months to bring it out!

  • silent_cid

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 6:47 pm GMT

    Can rush perfection and the same goes for Half-Life. Only reason why it's still the highest rated game on the PC according to Metacritic. We just have to endure a bit more.

  • DrStrangelove29

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 6:44 pm GMT

    Nothing like a smooth glass of Valve Time to calm the nerves. I hope everyone has been enjoying the Half-Life glass of Valve Time I think it has become a vintage.

  • shafakcool

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 6:14 pm GMT

    Stop trolling Hon players. Graphics are way better than HON and they used TF2 kind of graphic that wont expire in long term.

  • GAMERALL

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 5:33 pm GMT

    "But One They Fear, Dragon Born!"

  • peterruskov posted Aug 18, 2011 3:52 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    peterruskov

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 3:52 pm GMT (hide)

    ofc.the game just looks bad compare to HoN. Really expected more from Valve.There is obvious attempts to make the game looks similar to LoL(health bar,towers,voice acting) which i find to be very disturbing.Well will see,for now HoN is the only real dota clone,despite been managed by morons.