Valve Software Confirms Dota 2

Valve Software confirmed long-running rumors today by revealing its next game -- Dota 2, a follow-up to the popular Warcraft 3 mod Defense of the Ancients, due to release in 2011 on Mac and PC. Development of Dota 2 is led by the pseudonymous designer IceFrog, the years-long custodian for the DotA Allstars iteration of the mod. Rumors that Valve was working on a DotA game rose in 2009 when IceFrog said he was leading a development team at the Half-Life house. But while the development of Dota 2 isn't a complete surprise, details have been scant. A new Game Informer report sheds some light on those details, including how Dota 2 will try to be more inviting than its predecessor -- the genre and its hardcore fanbase are known for tearing apart newcomers. Valve is tailoring Steamworks matchmaking in order to help remedy the situation, and the game will also implement interactive guides, according to Game Informer: "Valve plans to allow guide-makers to tie their work back into the game by doing things like highlighting suggested item purchases or displaying useful information during a match." The most notable new addition is a deeply integrated coaching system that will allow veteran players to log in as a "coach," and team up with new players to help them learn the intricacies of Dota 2. While Valve is still working on the details of the system, the report said coaches will be able to see their companion's screen and communicate with him or her via voice or chat, giving real-time tips. "I think the interesting thing is us adding a second layer where the community is a service to each other. That's the real shift that we're trying to build here," said Valve founder Gabe Newell.