When Did Dota Come Out: Tracing the Origins of the MOBA Game

Dota 2

December 7, 2024

Marcus Wong

If you are searching for when did Dota come out, chances are you mean Dota 2, the incredibly popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that your friends are talking about in 2024.

Dota 2 is a standout title in the community of online gaming, which has significantly shaped the landscape of MOBA. Yet, many are unaware of its predecessor, Dota or Dota 1, which may have prompted you to ask: When did Dota come out?

Image credit: DotA

Tracing back to its origin

To truly appreciate when the game came out, it’s crucial to recognize its precursor, Defense of the Ancients (DotA). This MOBA mod for Warcraft III, released in 2002, laid the foundation for Dota 2’s gameplay mechanics and objectives. Multiple core developers maintained and updated the mod, many of whom have now gone their separate ways to build their legacies in Dota 2 and even League of Legends.

The game, with its rich esports history, also played a huge part in growing the esports industry globally.

DotA 6.75 Loading Screen (Image credits: Suke)

This begs the question, when would Dota 2 come out as a refined version of this timeless classic? After all, Dota 1 still gets progressive gameplay and mechanic updates over the years, and the reviews on Dota 1 by presumably old-school players are still outstanding in 2024.

When did Dota 2 come out? The successor of Dota

Officially, Dota 2 came out in July 2013, available for download, offering a dynamic platform for players to engage in a remake of classic Dota.

The game is a testament to Valve’s commitment to quality and innovation in the emerging gaming industry, MOBA particularly. Two teams of five players each control a unique hero with the goal of outmaneuvering the opposition and achieving victory by destroying one other’s Ancient Throne.

The beta release of Dota 2 came out in 2010, marking a significant milestone in Valve’s gaming portfolio, besides the Portal and Half-Life series. This was when IceFrog, the lead designer of the original DotA mod, joined Valve to spearhead the development of Dota 2 using the Source game engine.