Valve Keeps New DOTA 2 Players Away From The Bullies

MOBAs have earned the dubious reputation of having some of the most toxic communities to have ever existed. DOTA 2 and League of Legends are at the top of the list in terms of harassments, unsportsmanlike behavior, and downright mean players. In an effort to clean up its image a bit, Valve has decided to make a few changes with its own title by keeping the bullies in DOTA 2 away from new players.

Entering the world of a game like DOTA 2 is a daunting prospect for a lot of new players. Thanks to an intricate item and tool system, a complicated network of special abilities and skills, and an awe-inspiring level of freedom with regards to strategies, some would say that the game is meant for masters. Of course, none of these aspects are more troublesome than offensive players, PC Gamer points out.

In order to make entry a little easier, Valve made a few changes that are specifically intended to help novices become better and more comfortable with the game. For starters, new players can only use 20 characters instead of the complete 113 so that they are not overwhelmed. After 20 games, all heroes will be unlocked.

These characters have also been shown to be incredibly user-friendly, so even beginners can make use of them without a problem. Then there’s the matter of pairing new players with others who display an invaluable level of good behavior. That is to say, novices will only play with or against others who are nice.

In the blog post announcing the changes, the DOTA 2 team why they felt the need to make these changes. Most publications seem to agree that this is a good move for Valve.

“It is especially important for a new player to have a good social experience while they are first trying to learn the game,” the post reads.