Game developer Valve has released patch 7.00 for huge esports title Dota 2 which many are effectively labelling a sequel for the game.
Dota 7.00 – The New Journey is now LIVE!! https://t.co/Oj05gIJUgl pic.twitter.com/2czQFsrFUo
— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) December 13, 2016
It’s the first patch in the somewhat brief history of Dota 2 that doesn’t come under the “6.XX” banner and is hugely notable.
The 7.00 patch sees the map on which players compete changed significantly and several gameplay aspects altered. Shrines have been added and each hero will additionally have a talent tree which adds another level of complexity to the already complicated game.
Whilst to most this may seem “insignificant” and “games get patched all the time” – the significance of this can not be underestimated.
The new patch has changed the very fundamentals of the way that the game has played. With so many changes to the game, it could effectively render a lot of old data on the game and the competitive scene irrelevant. There’s even more to learn and be taken into account when considering just the simplest of outcomes.
It’ll be particularly interesting to see the approach the gambling industry take to this. Esports is relatively new to a lot of bookmakers and this change can not be underestimated for those looking to price the competitive scene.
Competitive Dota 2 matches including DotaPit qualifiers and other games that are set to happen over the next week or couple of weeks will be intriguing until the game settles down and a new competitive meta starts to establish itself.
Esports Insider says: To put the changes into some perspective, it would be like football introducing an extra goal at a random point on the pitch whilst revamping the way that the booking system worked and allowing players to use their hands*.
*Potential slight exaggeration, but it’s seriously not to be underestimated.
