Dota 2 viewership rises again with TI 2023 playoffs—and player numbers are following suit

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the Aegis of Champions at Dota 2’s The International as the pinnacle event moves into the Climate Pledge Arena next weekend. As TI 2023 nears its end, its effect on the game is also beginning to take shape as fans flock back despite the lack of the battle pass.

Once again it was the CIS region doing the heavy lifting for viewership as Team Spirit versus Virtus.pro topped the concurrent charts, according to stats site Esports Charts. 954,097 fans tuned in across Dota 2’s many TI 2023 broadcast channels to see Spirit secure a top-six spot over their regional rivals.

While Chinese viewership is not accounted for by Esports Charts, the incredible resurgence of China at TI will undoubtedly boost interest this week as LGD Gaming and Azure Ray go head-to-head, with a Chinese team will be guaranteed to finish in the top three this year.

Reception at the live event in Seattle has been good, with spectators on-site happy with conditions—a stark contrast to how both in-person and online viewers received Singapore’s TI last year. One 2023 attendee went into further detail about their experience, saying they were “overjoyed with my experience.”

But where TI’s effect on Dota really matters is in its boost to the player base. 2022’s edition of TI saw one of the largest leaps in active players, with concurrent player peaks passing one million in October 2022, according to Steam Charts.

The average viewer count last cracked 500,000 shortly after TI 2022, with the game sinking back to the low-400,000’s through 2023. All eyes will be on the chart next week when TI 2023’s playoffs begin, with many eager to see whether this year’s lack of a TI battle pass will have an effect on total player counts.

While the chances TI 2023 will break any records—viewership, attendance, or otherwise—are very low, it’s safe to say that, despite frustrations over the state of the meta and disappointment over the prize pool, Dota’s die-hards remain committed to the title all the way.

The International resumes this Friday, Oct. 27, with Nouns, Gaimin Gladiators, BetBoom, and VP up first for elimination at midday CT.