The release of Dota 2’s 2023 Compendium has elicited strong reactions from the game’s community. The primary point of contention appears to be the lack of new skins and other content. Into this emotionally charged landscape stepped Janne “Gorgc” Stefanovski, a well-known streamer, who decided to shed light on the Compendium’s expected prize pool for The International 2023 (TI12) during a livestream.

Gorgc’s Live Commentary on TI12’s Expected Prize Pool

Gorgc discovered a Reddit thread in the Dota 2 section where a fan had estimated the prize pool for TI12 based on the first two days of Compendium sales. The fan suggested a highly optimistic figure of $5 million. Gorgc promptly addressed this prediction during his livestream, stating that reaching such a lofty sum would be unlikely, given the current trajectory of sales.

Compendium’s Limited Timeframe for Fundraising

One reason for Gorgc’s skepticism about the prize pool reaching $5 million is the compressed timeframe for raising funds for TI12. Unlike previous years, the 2023 Compendium has had significantly less time to accumulate contributions. With only two weeks left until TI12, the current prize pool is on track to reach figures akin to the 2013 tournament, which had a prize pool of nearly $3 million.

Impact of the Compendium’s Lack of Content on Sales

The disappointment stemming from the lack of new content in the 2023 Compendium has had a discernible impact on sales. Valve had initially stated that they would release gameplay updates as a form of compensation for the reduced time for fundraising. However, many in the community view this as an inadequate replacement for a fully-featured battle pass, which has led to decreased sales.

Consumer Behavior Shifts: A Case Study

The change in community sentiment has also been evidenced by shifts in consumer behavior. To illustrate, in previous years, a player who claimed to be a Saudi Prince spent over $6,000 on the 2020 International Battle Pass, purchasing 10,000 levels. This year, the same player has invested a modest $200, equating to 300 Compendium levels.

Conclusion

Gorgc’s comments on the potential prize pool for TI12 serve as a reality check for the Dota 2 community. The limited timeframe for fundraising and the lack of compelling content in the 2023 Compendium are significant factors contributing to decreased sales. With shifts in consumer spending behavior already noticeable, the future of TI12’s prize pool remains uncertain.

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