The finals of The International 2025, the global Dota 2 championship, are currently happening, and Gabe Newell, the head of Valve, shared a touching message for fans. Despite the often harsh critiques he receives from players online, he maintains his love for the game.
Newell reflected, “14 years ago, we held the first The International in the German city of Cologne. The first International truly amazed me. It was amazing to see the players’ skill and the passion of the community. Before the first International, I really liked the game, but after TI, I fell in love with it. I love not only the game but also the community.”
He continued to highlight his commitment to Dota 2, stating he typically logs over 800 hours of playtime since its inception, adding, “It’s probably the game we’ve made that we’re most obsessed with playing.”
In his recent video message, he acknowledges, “Sure, people talk crap at me in chat… but that’s really about their enthusiasm for the game, and the energy they bring. That’s why, after all these years, I still play Dota every day.”
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