Valve has requested that all game makers cease real-money monetization in Dota 2 custom games by August 17, with some popular modes already gone offline in response. The custom game tools gave rise to a vibrant modding scene, with the most notable example being autobattler genre progenitor Dota Auto Chess. Some custom games possess real money monetization through third party platforms like Paypal or Patreon, allowing players to purchase cosmetics and in-game advantages. It seems Valve has finally taken action against this grey market economy in its juggernaut MOBA. A number of users have praised the decision, noting that things had gotten out of hand with Arcade monetization, but some developers have shared an open letter requesting Valve come to some sort of accommodation with legitimate developers in the Dota 2 arcade. This change follows Valve’s recent overhaul of how professional Counter-Strike tournaments can be run, making cash payouts from event organizers to teams more transparent and protecting against potential conflicts of interest. All in all, it looks like Valve is stepping up its efforts to protect its competitive games from potentially predatory practices.
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