As The Dota 2 International Returns. Valve Introduces A New Way For Fans To Support Teams

Because time has no meaning now, it's probably easy to forget that we've gone a longer period of time without things like in-person video game tournaments. But, that time is almost over as different organizations appear to be determining it might be okay to at least get the teams together in one place. That's what's happening with the Dota 2 International, which is slated to take place in Stockholm, Sweden this August.

As part of the return to a more normal tournament vibe, Valve has announced a new way for fans to show support for their favorite teams. They've dubbed it Supporters Clubs. This new system allows players to purchase a selection of bundles associated with their team of choice. For most teams, there will be three bundles to choose from, Bronze Club, Silver Club, and Gold Club. Each contains digital content submitted by the team, including things like sprays, badges, emoticons, loading screens, and even voice lines. Obviously, the higher the tier, the more items the Club contains, and the more it costs. Although, we don't know the prices as of yet.

The good news is that (at least a portion) of the bundle purchase does benefit the team in question. Teams receive 50% of all sales from their bundles. Initially, there will be 17 teams to choose from but more will be added over time.

As for the tournament itself, the whole thing will kick off with the Group Stage, running from August 5 to August 8. This will be followed by the main event on August 10, which will last until August 15 when the final teams fight for the title -- not to mention a big chunk of a $40,018,195 prize pool.