Dota 2 The International 12, the ultimate showdown which concluded in Seattle, United States last weekend, crowning Team Spirit as the two-time victors against the new sensation, Gaimin Gladiators. Unsurprisingly, with many being critical of the way Valve handled the publicity and the event, the tournament witnessed a decline in viewership, highlighting potential challenges for Valve’s flagship tournament.
Comparatively, this year’s event witnessed a slight dip in viewership numbers from its 2022 edition. Data from the popular esports platform, Esports Charts, revealed a peak viewership of approximately 1.44 million, marking a notable decrease of 300,000 viewers from the previous year.
With an average viewership of 541,000, TI12 secured its position as the fourth most-watched installment of the tournament. Although the average viewership decreased by 20,000 from the previous year, it remained a strong contender in the competitive esports landscape.
Examining the language preferences of the viewers, the Russian broadcast emerged as the most-watched, amassing around 815,000 viewers at its peak, especially during Team Spirit’s grand finals clash. English-language viewership followed closely behind with 457,000 spectators. It’s worth noting that TI10 in 2021 remains the most-watched Dota 2 event in history, boasting over a million more viewers than the 2023 edition.
Notably, the Riyadh Masters still retains its status as the most-watched Dota 2 tournament of the season, as per Esports Charts data as of July 30. The Riyadh Masters event witnessed a peak viewership of 587,891 out of a total airtime of 148 hours and 50 minutes.
While Valve has assured the continuation of The International in the upcoming year, these statistics might signal the need for strategic marketing to elevate the tournament’s appeal and competitiveness in comparison to other third-party organizers, particularly in anticipation of the forthcoming Saudi Arabia Esports World Cup.
