As one of the most popular PC games ever, in April, 2024 the Dota 2 player count stood at 456,550 daily average with a peak of 921,133 for the month. As a free-to-play MOBA on Steam, Dota 2 is consistently one of the games with the highest average player count despite being over a decade old (where were you in 2013?).
But just how popular is Dota 2? Let’s dive into the latest Dota 2 player count, including active daily players, peak players per month, and other interesting stats such as biggest prize pools, Twitch numbers, and most popular countries. We’ll finish our guide with factors that impact Dota 2’s popularity and channel our inner Oracle to discuss the game’s future.
How Many People Play Dota 2?
Hundreds of thousands of gamers enjoy Dota 2 daily, and millions play the game monthly. Everyone knows it’s consistently close to the top of the Steam charts, but exactly how many people play Dota 2?
The table below showcases stats on average active daily players and the monthly peak player numbers from February 2023 through February 2024.
| Month | Average Daily Active Players | Peak Players |
| April 2024 | 456,550 | 921,133 |
| March 2024 | 428,918 | 729,865 |
| February 2024 | 427,922 | 741,290 |
| January 2024 | 440,229 | 736,488 |
| December 2023 | 435,517 | 802,728 |
| November 2023 | 433,727 | 767,353 |
| October 2023 | 435,621 | 780,443 |
| September 2023 | 437,273 | 777,466 |
| August 2023 | 444,319 | 855,495 |
| July 2023 | 438,510 | 702,381 |
| June 2023 | 421,336 | 679,525 |
| May 2023 | 433,220 | 711,816 |
| April 2023 | 429,226 | 809,580 |
| March 2023 | 418,744 | 752,617 |
| February 2023 | 401,847 | 680,746 |
Please note: The Dota 2 player counts above reflect stats from SteamCharts and SteamDB, as well as the official Steam “Most Played” page.
Dota 2 Twitch Stats
Let’s look at some Dota 2 Twitch stats to see how many people watch livestreams for the MOBA.
- On Oct. 17, 2021, Dota 2 hit its all-time peak concurrent viewers on Twitch at 1,714,668.
- The average daily Twitch viewers for Dota 2 is 76,139 as of March 2024.
- In February 2024, Twitch users watched a combined 44,719,032 hours of Dota 2.
- The peak Dota 2 viewership number on Twitch for February 2024 was 320,387.
- Dota 2 is ranked as the 6th biggest game on Twitch in terms of viewership ranking.
Please note: The Dota 2 Twitch stats above reflect information from StreamCharts and TwitchTracker.
Other Dota 2 Stats
We compiled some other Dota 2 stats below:
- Dota 2 is consistently the second most popular game on Steam after Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). In addition, Dota 2 is nominated for The Steam Awards every year.
- The biggest total prize pool in a Dota 2 esports event is a whopping $40,018,195 for The International 2021.
- Dota 2’s highest peak concurrent player record is 1,291,328 (March 2016).
- Dota 2 is the most prominent esports title in total prize pools, with $343,119,433 prize money from 1,877 tournaments according to EsportsEarnings.
Where Is Dota 2 The Most Popular?
While official geographical data is not readily available for Dota 2, we do have some solid indications of where the game is most popular:
- United States
- Russia
- China
- Brazil
- Germany
Dota 2 esports’ most significant regions are Western and Eastern Europe, North America, and Asia.
How Does Dota 2’s Player Count Compare To Similar Games?
Dota 2 is one of the “big two” MOBA titles, locked forever in a battle with Riot’s League of Legends (LoL). Other games, such as Heroes of the Storm and Heroes of Newerth, have tried but struggled to even come close to surpassing Dota 2 or LoL.
As per data from ActivePlayer.io, LoL has an active monthly player base north of 100 million, beating Dota 2’s count of around 10 million by quite a large margin. It is important to note that ActivePlayer.io makes educated guesses based on trends, historical data, and Twitch viewership. It is a good source of information, but the numbers are less than 100% accurate.
What Impacts Dota 2’s Popularity?
During huge events such as the annual The International, Dota 2’s popularity spikes, shooting up to over a million daily average players on Steam each year. Thanks to The International’s Battle Pass and related content, we see this large influx of players, which fuels the large prize pools.
Another significant factor that can impact Dota 2’s popularity is a gameplay or content update from Valve. Fans may take a break from the game if they don’t like the latest hero balance changes or jump back in if their favorite heroes receive buffs. New content can also draw Dota 2 players back in, like when Valve adds a new hero or mode.
Factors outside the game can also impact its popularity. For example, the Dota 2 anime on Netflix, Dragon’s Blood, did draw some players back in. Season 1 was released at the end of March 2021, and in April 2021, we saw an increase of 8.7% active players.
What Does The Future Look Like For Dota 2’s Player Count?
Dota 2’s future is up for vigorous debate. Some believe the MOBA will flourish in the years ahead, while others think its glory days are long gone. With over a decade of history since its release on July 9, 2013, one thing is sure: Dota 2 remains one of Steam’s most popular PC games, and we don’t see that changing any time soon.
In September 2023, Valve announced the end of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). The move was met with mixed reception, as the developer is leaving it up to tournament organizers across the globe to host those significant Dota 2 esports events we all love to watch.
Killing off the DPC does open up opportunities for more exciting events, and The International will continue. How will this move impact Dota 2’s future regarding player numbers? We’ll have to wait and see.
For more ways to enjoy your favorite MOBA, check out the Dota 2 betting odds on Thunderpick!
