Dota 2’s return to the Esports World Cup follows the successful 2024 Riyadh Masters Dota 2 tournament.
Dota 2, the iconic multiple online battle arena (MOBA) game, is set to make a return to the Esports World Cup stage in 2025, Esports Insider reports.
This announcement follows the successful 2024 Riyadh Masters Dota 2 tournament, which was held as part of the Esports World Cup series.
The 2024 Riyadh Masters Dota 2 tournament, hosted in Saudi Arabia, captivated audiences worldwide. With a peak viewership of 419,244 and an average of 178,349 viewers over its 147-hour duration, it solidified its position as a major esports event. These impressive figures were reported by industry analytics firm Esports Charts.
In addition to Dota 2, the 2025 Esports World Cup will feature several other popular titles. Confirmed titles include Fighters, Honor of Kings, Call of Duty, and Free Fire. Honor of Kings, a popular mobile MOBA, successfully hosted its midseason tournament as part of the 2024 Esports World Cup.
The Esports World Cup has gained significant traction in recent years, offering substantial prize pools that can dramatically change the lives of professional esports athletes. These prize pools often reach hundreds of thousands, and sometimes even millions, of dollars.
However, the Esports World Cup has not been without controversy. Many in the esports community have criticized the event's ties to the Saudi Arabian government, citing the Kingdom's human rights record. Accusations of "sportswashing" have been leveled against the Kingdom, suggesting that the government is using esports to improve its global image.
Despite these concerns, numerous game developers and publishers have partnered with the Esports World Cup to host midseason international tournaments. These partnerships have resulted in significant viewership and exposure for the games involved.
Read related article: Teams Competing in the 6th Mobile Legends World Championship
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