Dota 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dota 2 across the outlets.
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Palworld is once again dominating Steam this weekend, clocking up almost 1m concurrent players
Palworld has once again achieved near the top of Steam's concurrent player charts, nearing one million players over the weekend. This marks the second consecutive weekend the game has significantly outperformed titles like Dota 2. The game's full release on July 10th has seen it join an elite group of games that have surpassed two million concurrent players on Steam.
Which Console Has The Smartest Players? New Study Puts Xbox, PlayStation, and PC Head-to-Head
A recent study by WhichBingo surveyed 1,010 adult gamers to compare the average IQ scores across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. PC gamers scored highest with an average IQ of 114.8, followed by PlayStation at 112.7, and Xbox at 107.4. The article discusses whether these differences reflect hardware or the player habits and game preferences attracted to each platform, noting that games like Dota 2 and League of Legends, popular on PC, may influence the results due to their complex strategic nature.
Palworld 1.0 briefly overtook the king of Steam, Counter-Strike 2, and devs can't help but bask in the victory: "Let me enjoy this moment for just a little longer"
Following its 1.0 update, Palworld has seen a massive surge in players, briefly surpassing Counter-Strike 2 in concurrent players on Steam. Pocketpair's John Buckley shared his excitement for the achievement, with other industry figures like Will Powers from Pearl Abyss offering congratulations. CEO Takuro Mizobe also expressed gratitude to the fans for enjoying the game.
Palworld barges Dota 2 aside as PC player counts skyrocket following the game's 1.0 release
Palworld has seen a significant surge in player counts following its 1.0 release on PC and consoles, reaching over 489,000 concurrent players on Steam. This impressive relaunch figure places it above Dota 2 and highlights the success of the survival-crafting game, despite not reaching its early access peak. The game is available on PC and consoles, with sales boosted by a limited-time discount.
Steam Machine Verified medals appear on games' store pages overnight, as if left by the Compatibility Fairy
Valve has enabled the display of Steam Machine game compatibility ratings on store pages, mirroring the system used for the Steam Deck. Games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Palworld have received 'Verified' status, while Dota 2 is marked as 'Playable' due to minor issues. This update aims to clarify how Windows games will perform on Valve's SteamOS hardware.
Games of the Future 2026 Lineup Confirmed: Titles, Teams, and Disciplines Revealed
The official lineup for Games of the Future 2026 has been confirmed, featuring eight disciplines and a prize pool exceeding $4 million. The event will include popular titles such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, UFL, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Just Dance, and 3on3 FreeStyle. Over 800 athletes from renowned Esports and sports institutions will compete from July 29 to August 9 in Kazakhstan.
Nobody Plays New Games Anymore: The 2026 Playtime Data | TAG
Recent data from Valve's Steam Replay and Newzoo reports indicate that new game releases consistently capture only 14-17% of player playtime on PC, with older titles dominating the remaining hours. This trend holds true across platforms, with Xbox showing the highest engagement for new releases at 18%. The analysis suggests this is due to factors like the prevalence of live service games, adult time constraints, and the value proposition of established back-catalog titles, rather than a decline in player interest.
Games of the Future 2026 Confirms Global Lineup for Astana
The Games of the Future 2026 has confirmed its final lineup of over 800 athletes from more than 50 nations competing in Astana from July 29 to August 9. The event will feature popular titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds, alongside unique phygital disciplines combining digital gameplay with live sports, with a total prize pool exceeding US$4 million.
Security researchers have leveraged bad maths to get around AI safety guardrails, naming the attack method after one of…
Security researchers have developed a new attack method called 'BioShocking' that bypasses AI safety guardrails by leveraging flawed mathematical puzzles and nostalgic references. This technique was demonstrated on several AI agents, including ChatGPT, causing them to ignore safety protocols and potentially compromise user credentials. While OpenAI has reportedly fixed the vulnerability, other vendors are still working on solutions.
Turtle Beach's new keyboard has given me something I didn't know I wanted
The Turtle Beach Command Series KB7 TKL keyboard offers a premium build with Hall effect switches and a unique 4.3-inch touchscreen for customization and shortcuts, appealing to both competitive gamers and content creators. While the screen's necessity is debatable, its functionality for macros, application shortcuts, and website/folder access proves surprisingly useful over time, despite a high price point.
Dawn of War 2’s The Last Stand mode is still the best co-op MOBA that never was
The Last Stand mode from Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is analyzed as a highly successful cooperative MOBA-like experience that predates many modern titles. Despite its age and limited maps, the mode's challenging gameplay and unique blend of RTS and MOBA elements continue to attract players, highlighting its innovative design.
Dota 2's Dark Carnival has begun, with a huge story chapter and five automaton hero personas
Valve has launched the Dota 2 Dark Carnival event, featuring a new story campaign titled 'Midnight Run' with Legion Commander and Hoodwink. The event introduces new hero personas, cosmetic items, and a progression system tied to in-game actions. The Dark Carnival is rolling out in stages, with new content becoming available over the next four weeks.
Valve has "a nice thing going on on PC," Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney says, but "they're missing out on a lot of opportunity" without the likes of Fortnite and Genshin Impact
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney believes Valve's Steam platform is missing significant opportunities by not including popular games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact. He argues that Steam's closed ecosystem limits its reach compared to more open platforms like the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store, suggesting Valve could benefit from a more collaborative approach to digital distribution on PC.
After mysteriously vanishing from the game, Dota 2's Axe has been 'replaced' by a fake
Dota 2's hero Axe mysteriously disappeared from the game and was replaced by a placeholder, only to return with a new 'Axe?' designation and a mechanical, clockwork design. This change, along with new ability icons and a hammer replacing his axe, is speculated to be part of an upcoming 'Dark Carnival' in-game event, possibly related to the character Ringmaster. Valve has since fixed crashes associated with the new hero.
400 Million Fans: Study Finds How Esports Influences Gen Z and Their Purchasing Behaviours
A new study by ESL FACEIT Group, Hero Esports, and Niko Partners reveals that esports significantly influences Gen Z purchasing behaviors, with 74% reporting that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces affect their buying decisions. The research, based on 8,000 Gen Z respondents aged 13-30, highlights that 85% notice branding in esports, and 66% have purchased products due to collaborations with esports teams, games, or players. The study also details Gen Z's diverse interests beyond gaming, including music, streaming, and sports, indicating broad opportunities for authentic brand engagement.
eSports Betting in Canada – What Gamers Need to Know in 2026
The Canadian eSports betting market is experiencing significant growth, particularly in regulated provinces like Ontario. Gamers' analytical skills from competitive play translate well to betting, with titles like CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant seeing substantial wagering action. As the legal landscape clarifies and more reputable platforms emerge, eSports betting is becoming a natural extension of gaming habits for Canadian players.
Steam Machine review: A singular living room PC that's more expensive than I'd like, but too special not to love
The new Steam Machine offers a unique and compact living room PC experience, though its high price point is a significant drawback. Despite performance limitations compared to more expensive custom builds, it excels in quiet operation, small form factor, and seamless integration with SteamOS and the Steam Controller, making it a compelling, albeit costly, option for a dedicated home entertainment PC.
Valve calls out Dota 2 dataminers desperate for Dark Carnival news: "Why are you guys reading our variable names?"
Valve has responded to Dota 2 dataminers speculating about a new event called 'Dark Carnival' by humorously renaming a variable in the game's code to 'Why are you guys reading our variable names'. This follows months of rumors and in-game hints, including a 'Sense of Foreboding' modifier, suggesting a new large-scale event is in development, potentially involving the character Ringmaster.
Dota 2 heroes - best picks for the June 2026 meta
This guide provides a breakdown of the best Dota 2 heroes for the June 2026 meta, categorized by role including Carry, Midlane, Offlane, and Support. It emphasizes player comfort and team composition while highlighting strong picks like Anti-Mage, Invoker, Axe, and Crystal Maiden.
Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar monitors can successfully beat biology to hone motion clarity in games - though they're not yet worth the price
Nvidia's G-Sync Pulsar technology aims to improve motion clarity in games by using a segmented backlight strobing technique, which is more effective than traditional methods and compatible with variable refresh rates. While it shows promise in games like Dota 2 and Forza Horizon 6, its benefits vary significantly by title and it requires a GeForce RTX graphics card. The high cost of current Pulsar monitors, such as the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQNGV, makes them a questionable purchase for most consumers.
