Kelly "kellymilkies" Ong Xiao Wei, the Director of Strategic Development at Alliance, commented on the announcement regarding the ban on in-game advertising at The International 2024.
She described the decision as a major setback for organisations that have been funded by sponsors throughout the year, only to now be told, "Thanks for the money, but GG, we can't show you at TI." She questioned whether teams were informed in advance or if this decision was made recently, as it could significantly impact their business.
Ong compared the in-game flags and banners in Dota 2 to stadium banners in sports or stickers on F1 cars, noting that while they aren't the only indicators of sponsorship value, they are important. She wondered whether this change would persist beyond TI.
The International 2024 will be held from 4 to 15 September in Copenhagen, with 16 teams competing for a base prize pool of $1.6 million.