What is battle pass in Dota 2

Valve has a unique way of boosting the prize pool of its flagship tournament, The International Dota 2 Championships, one of the biggest esports tournaments in the world, through the medium of Battle Pass. This method was first introduced as an in-game purchasable feature, allowing the community to directly contribute to the prize pool of each year's TI through a system known as crowdfunding.

Valve was the first to successfully implement this model in Dota 2. By doing so, they created a dynamic where fans could support the competitive scene while earning exclusive rewards through the battle pass as they played Dota 2 games. As time progressed, the system evolved, and Valve nearly perfected it. There were also occasional setbacks and community debates about value and delivery in recent years.

However, if you're new to the game and wondering what a Battle Pass is in Dota 2 or the hype surrounding it, don’t worry, we've got you covered. Buckle up, and let us take you through one of the ancient wonders of the esports world.

How the Battle Pass impacted the TI prize pool throughout the years

The first-ever battle pass in Dota 2 was introduced in 2013 ahead of The International 2013. However, back then it had a slightly different name – The International 2013 Compendium.

Nevertheless, it laid the foundational work for the battle pass system in Dota 2. At its inception, it added 1.2 million USD to the tournament's prize pool, making a significant mark.

The International 2015 compendium

At The International 2015, new records were broken – over 16 million USD was added to The International’s prize pool through the 2015 compendium sales. In the following years, the prize pool of TI only continued to increase.

In the past, Valve also released battle passes for the Dota 2 Majors, which were official tournaments sponsored by Valve outside of TI. Thus, there would be two battle passes per year, but the number was later reduced to one with sole focus on The International. In 2016, Dota 2 received its first-ever Battle Pass, as Valve renamed the Compendium.

The International 2021 Battle Pass Rewards.

At the International 2021, the prize pool for The International reached 40 million USD. Over 38 million USD was generated from the sales of the battle pass. It was a landmark moment in esports history. Nevertheless, the highest highs always come with the lowest lows.

Ahead of The International 2022, Valve attempted to overhaul the battle pass system. Unfortunately, they strayed away from the community's expectations. Moreover, for the first year in half a decade, the sales of the battle pass declined.

At The International 2023, Valve reverted the name back to The Compendium. Yet, the sales continued to only decline. By the time The International 2024 approached, only over a million USD was added to the prize pool through Compendium sales.

Why was the Dota 2 Battle Pass popular?

Over the years, the community would eagerly await the arrival of the Battle Pass in Dota 2. When it dropped, players would act swiftly, exploring everything it offered each year. During its prime, the Battle Pass meant something for everyone – a bridge that connected the Dota 2 community, the professional players and the developers.

As the system evolved, certain features in the Dota 2 battle pass became a staple. Arcana votes, in-game events, Cavern Crawl quests, Rylai's Wheel of Blessings were warmly embraced by the community. The in-game cosmetics only served as a small fraction of the excitement.

The Arcana votes at The International 2018

Arcana votes were among the most favourite features of the battle pass in Dota 2. It allowed players to decide which hero would receive the next Arcana skin. Players who owned the BP could cast votes throughout the season. Near the end of The International, the winner was revealed live during the tournament. A few months later, the arcana skin for the winner would be released in-game.

Rylai's Wheel of Blessings was another feature that the community adored. It was a lottery system much like roulette. Battle pass owners in Dota 2 could spin the wheel for rewards, which included skins ranging from uncommon items to even Arcanas.

Valve start showing cracks at The International 2022 battle pass.

While Valve has kept some of the features from the battle pass, most of these beloved features were noticeably absent in the recent compendiums. This could be one of the major factors which contributed to the decline of the battle pass sales.

When will the Battle Pass for The International 2025 release?

In Dota 2, the Battle Pass doesn't have a fixed release schedule. However, Valve usually launches them about a month and a half before the start of TI. The International 2025 will be hosted in September, which means we can likely anticipate the 2025 Dota 2 battle pass to drop sometime around June or July.

Last year, Valve tried something new and experimented with a new approach. While the 2024 Battle Pass was seen as a disappointment by the community, Valve's strategy, perhaps for testing future content included in BP, seemed to be successful. It'll be interesting to see what Valve brings to this year's battle pass. Hopefully, it will be more than just a name change and deliver some kind of content that the Dota 2 community can build their hype around.