Dota 2 streamer and analyst Yaroslav NS Kuznetsov expressed his views on changes within professional teams in the esports scene. He noted that the MOBA genre is experiencing another generational shift, which could negatively impact the game. Kuznetsov shared his thoughts during a personal Twitch stream.
He remarked on the significant number of players who have left, indicating that a partial generational change is occurring once again, similar to what happened during the pandemic when many seasoned players, such as Puppey, KuroKy, and Arteezy, remained prominent contenders. The shift to online tournaments during that time unexpectedly elevated new players to the top. This dramatic change led to the emergence of teams like Gladiators and a significant rise for Liquid, while many established stars faded from the professional scene.
Currently, he observed a similar yet more distressing situation. He pointed out that generational changes do not benefit the overall scene. Often, fans develop attachments to certain players, and when those players depart, they lose interest in the game. For instance, many followed Dota 2 because of n0tail, and after his departure, they found the scene less engaging.
While new stars have begun to emerge, they too are leaving, and if they do not return soon, the scene will need to search for fresh talent. He explained that creating a star player who attracts attention takes time. It is not merely about exceptional gameplay; the player must be authoritative, interesting, and associated with memes and narratives, having a significant background. A player who performs well but has no established history is often far less captivating than someone who has been around for a decade, changing teams and being involved in controversies. He noted that players like ATF may be among the best, but fans have little interest in them compared to established names like Puppey.
Kuznetsov conveyed that the reshuffle phase in the current season appears bleak and suggests an impending decline for Dota 2. In recent years, teams held onto their rosters, believing they were engaged in something meaningful. The instinct of a rational individual is to repair what is broken rather than to dismantle everything and start anew. However, it seems that nearly every team has decided to break apart and rebuild from scratch, often without a solid foundation, leaving only fragments of the old structure to construct something new.
The reshuffle period on the professional scene began after the conclusion of The International 2024.