During a personal stream, analyst and streamer Yaroslav 'NS' Kuznetsov shared his thoughts on the future of the MOBA genre.
Kuznetsov expressed his belief that the MOBA genre is likely to decline in the next decade. He suggested that while games like Dota 2 might still have dedicated players long after official servers are shut down, the genre as a whole is facing a decline in popularity. He noted that the genre’s lifespan is inherently limited due to the need for constant updates and changes to keep the game engaging. This ongoing evolution can alienate players who are resistant to change, which contributes to a decline in player base.
Kuznetsov acknowledged that while some long-time players continue to engage with the game despite numerous changes, the influx of new players is insufficient to offset the loss of existing ones. He speculated that the situation could be mitigated if the game's developers invested significantly in advertising, but noted that Valve has not historically allocated funds for such marketing efforts. He concluded that without substantial promotional support, the MOBA genre may face an inevitable decline.
Previously, Kuznetsov had commented on the lack of information regarding the upcoming The International 2024.