Norwegian esports organisation HEROIC has officially disbanded its Dota 2 roster and exited the title’s competitive scene, bringing an end to its roughly two-year involvement in the game.
The organisation said the decision was driven entirely by financial reasons, even though the team had delivered strong results and built a growing fanbase, especially in South America. Following the announcement, all players and staff were released from their contracts and are now free to explore new opportunities.
HEROIC first entered the Dota 2 scene in January 2024 by signing a prominent South American lineup. The team quickly became one of the top squads in the region and built a strong identity in South American Dota. During its time in the scene, the team achieved several notable results, earning around $1.4 million in prize money.
HEROIC’s exit points out larger issues affecting the Dota 2 esports scene. The cost of running a top-tier team has increased significantly in recent years. Salaries for players and staff alone can range from $500,000 to over $1.5 million annually.
However, this trend isn’t limited to Dota 2. It’s showing up across many esports titles, where team owners are struggling with extremely high operating costs. The owner of CYBERSHOKE Esports, a CS2 team, shared a detailed breakdown of what it takes to keep operations running. Around the same time, WYLDE confirmed they’re pulling out of Tier One Rainbow Six Siege because they can no longer sustain those expenses.
While business for Dota 2 esports teams has declined in recent years, Valve has been actively taking measures to revive it. Previously, Valve controlled much of the competitive structure through the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC), which featured official leagues and tournaments.
After The International 2023, Valve decided to end this system. Instead of managing everything directly, it opened up the scene to outside tournament organisers. This kind of system supports both top teams and upcoming talent, making the scene more sustainable over time.
Valve has also stepped back from directly managing its biggest event, The International. Starting from TI 2024, the responsibility for organising the event has largely been given to PGL.
The final important change is how Dota 2 esports is now connected to larger global events. The game has become a key title at the Esports World Cup (EWC), which features multiple games and offers very large prize pools. This gives Dota 2 players more opportunities to compete for big rewards outside of Valve’s own tournaments.
While HEROIC is stepping away from Dota 2 for now, there is still optimism that the former roster can continue playing together if it finds a new backer.
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