Dota 2 facts · updated every day

Is Dota 2 dying?

The player count since Jul 2012.

Released
Jul 9, 2013
Heroes
127
newest: Largo
Patches
10
in 12 months

Average players at once

  1. 2026so far521,412
  2. 2025last year479,271
  3. 2016best year638,268
  4. 2021lowest since 2016422,208

Players per monthSteam, since Jul 2012

Our answer“No, it is growing.”

Windranger as a doctor checks Undying, who flexes his arm

Players at once · 2026 average

521,412

  • vs 2025▲ 8.8%
  • vs 2021▲ 23.5%
  • vs 2016▼ 18.3%
–playing Dota 2 right nowlive from Steam · see the live stats
Peak 2026
981,123
August 2026
All-time peak
1,291,328
March 2016
Best month ever
709,178
February 2016, average
Lowest year since
422,208
2021, average
250k500k750k571k
20132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Windranger as a doctor gives a thumbs up next to Undying, who flexes his arm on a hospital bed in front of a rising heart monitor

By Kevin · updated October 6, 2026 · numbers updated every day

How many people play Dota 2 in 2026?

From January to September 2026, an average of 521,412 people were in Dota 2 at the same time, up from 479,271 in 2025. The busiest moment this year was in August 2026, with 981,123 players online at once.

These numbers come from Steam. Steam counts everyone who has Dota 2 running at that moment, in every game mode. The chart shows every month of 2026 so far.

  1. 569kJan
  2. 597kFeb
  3. 478kMar
  4. 426kApr
  5. 423kMay
  6. 466kJun
  7. 546kJul
  8. 617kAug
  9. 571kSep

2026 month by month: average players at the same time. Live numbers →

When was Dota 2 the most popular?

Dota 2 was the biggest in 2016, with an average of 638,268 players. The all-time peak was 1,291,328 players at the same time, in March 2016.

After that the numbers went down. The lowest year since then was 2021, with an average of 422,208. Since then the numbers have grown again, with ups and downs, to 521,412 so far in 2026.

  1. 201278,221 from Jul
  2. 2013250,042
  3. 2014474,745
  4. 2015561,580
  5. 2016638,268
  6. 2017533,029
  7. 2018454,787
  8. 2019477,651
  9. 2020433,340
  10. 2021422,208
  11. 2022466,160
  12. 2023429,803
  13. 2024450,708
  14. 2025479,271
  15. 2026521,412 so far

Average players online at the same time, per year. Source: SteamCharts, from Steam. Live numbers →

Why do people say Dota 2 is dying?

Mostly because the game is old and because the prize pools of The International are much smaller than before. Dota 2 came out in 2013, and the player numbers are below the record of 2016.

The biggest prize pool was $40,018,195 at The International 2021. For many years fans paid into it with in-game purchases. The newest TI, in 2026, had $3,906,263. A smaller prize pool is a change for the pro scene, but it does not mean that fewer people play the game.

Is Dota 2 still updated?

Yes. The newest patch is 7.41f from September 15, 2026, and the newest hero, Largo, came out on December 15, 2025.

Dota 2 has 127 heroes today. Our trackers show when the next patch and the next new hero could come, based on how long Valve took in the past.

Where can I see the Dota 2 player count live?

Our Dota 2 live stats show how many people play right now, straight from Steam. The page also has the player count since 2012, the most played heroes this week and the rank distribution.

Questions players ask

How many people play Dota 2 right now?

Our live stats show Steam's number for right now. In September 2026 an average of 571,294 people played at the same time.

What is the highest Dota 2 player count ever?

1,291,328 players at the same time, in March 2016, according to SteamCharts.

Is Dota 2 worth playing in 2026?

Plenty of people think so: in September 2026 an average of 571,294 played at the same time. The game is free to play, and Valve still adds new heroes and patches.

More Dota 2 explained

Sources: SteamCharts: Dota 2 (data from Steam), Valve: Dota 2 patches, Liquipedia: The International, Wikipedia: Dota 2. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.