It seemed like just the other day that fans were crying out for Valve to release the 2022 Battle Pass. Now, they’re crying out for them to take it back. It hasn’t taken long at all for public opinion to make this drastic change. So, what happened? Well, there are several reasons why Dota 2’s 2022 Battle Pass is disappointing.
While all the information that Valve revealed about the pass was true, it was what they left out that mattered most. In the past, Valve’s Battle Passes have been known to contain all sorts of goodies, justifying the price. This pass is the same on the surface, but in the nitty-gritty details, it looks very different. Valve only revealed the most impressive items, such as the Arcanas, Immortals, and Aegis. The rest, the real meat of the pass, was simply mentioned in passing. For example, they said that there would be voice lines, but didn’t reveal any. As it turns out, most of the common content is less than stellar. Voice lines are less creative than in past years, and consumables are less plentiful. It’s led to players feeling like they haven’t gotten their money’s worth. But that’s just half of the problem.
Compared to previous years, the 2022 Battle Pass is extremely stingy with points. Fans calculated that players can earn 169,050 points for free from currently available methods. This equals 169 levels with 50 points left over. The 2020 Battle Pass, for comparison, allowed players to earn 300,500 free points. That’s 300 (and a half) levels, almost double what this pass allows for.
There is one ray of hope, however. But of course, it’s random. A Battle Chest can be earned from the Week 2 rewards, containing free Battle Points. It can contain a maximum of 32,000 BP… or a minimum of 1,000. There’s no way to influence it either, it’s entirely random.
[Related: Dota 2: The 2022 Battle Pass Has Arrived]
While the offerings from the Battle Pass have proved disappointing, Dota Plus recently has as well. While a recent update added new cosmetics for Plus users, it also broke a core feature. Dota Plus Assistant is supposed to suggest builds for each game, but as of the latest update, it doesn’t. In fact, the menu seems to have disappeared entirely, with only the Plus Assistant title remaining. As Dota Plus is a paid service, its traditional bugginess has gotten on the nerves of its subscribers. It’s one thing for a free game to be less than polished, another thing entirely for a paid service. And to add to the fire, this service isn’t just disrupted but essentially missing.
Unsurprisingly, many fans have chosen to terminate their subscriptions. Others still have asked for refunds, only to be told that Valve isn’t offering them at this time. This, along with the disappointing Battle Pass, has left many feeling that Valve is trying to fleece their fans. While traditionally known for producing worthwhile products with low prices, they seem to be trying to tip the scales.
While the 2022 Battle Pass is disappointing, it may not be a sign of more to come. It’s possible, if optimistic, that this is merely a misstep in Valve’s history. This is a test of a new Battle Pass structure, meaning Valve will be looking to learn from it. If they take these lessons to heart, the next Battle Pass could look more like those of yore. In any case, it’s certain that fans will be more hesitant to cash in in the future.
