Dota X is a AAA blockchain metaverse game that integrates classic MOBA gameplay with decentralized asset ownership and a digital ecosystem. It is being developed by a team under Valve Corporation's Dota X division in collaboration with Web3 developers. ^{[1] [2]}

Overview

Dota X is set in a new parallel dimension, the Dota X Metaverse, created from the conflict between the Radiant and Dire forces in the Dota universe. This metaverse is composed of fragmented "Star Realms" that players can explore, conquer, and govern. The game aims to combine traditional MOBA combat with metaverse and blockchain technology, allowing players to own their digital assets. It is powered by the Source 2 engine and features 4K ray-traced environments and particle-effect level skills for NFT heroes. Dota X is positioned as Valve's first flagship blockchain game, developed by a team including original Dota 2 creatives and Web3 developers. It is designed to be a cross-platform, cross-dimensional digital ecosystem that functions as both a competitive battlefield and a creative sandbox for players. ^[1]

The project seeks to redefine MOBA games by incorporating elements of "civilization building" and "economic gaming" into the battle experience. Player actions, such as creation, trading, and battles, are intended to be recorded on a decentralized blockchain. The game's economic model is designed to be self-sustaining, allowing players, developers, and investors to potentially share in the growth of the metaverse through asset appreciation and participation in the on-chain economy. ^[1]

Valve Corporation

Valve Corporation is an American company founded in 1996 by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, it is involved in video game development, publishing, and digital distribution. Valve is known for its strategic partnerships, including with Perfect World for the Steam platform in China (2018) ^[1], HTC for the HTC Vive VR headset and Steam VR platform (2015) ^[1], and hardware manufacturers like AMD and NVIDIA for game performance optimization ^[1].

The company's portfolio includes notable game franchises such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and Team Fortress. Valve has also developed VR games like Half-Life: Alyx (2020) and hardware devices such as the Valve Index VR headset and the Steam Deck portable gaming console (2022). Valve operates Steam, a significant global PC game distribution platform. The company has developed game engines, including the Source engine and the Source 2 engine, used in titles like Dota 2 and Half-Life: Alyx. Valve is also involved in esports, hosting The International championship for Dota 2, which has featured large prize pools ^[1].

Features

NFT Heroes and Assets

Within Dota X, heroes, skins, and equipment are represented as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). This structure is intended to provide players with ownership of their digital assets, allowing for trading across compatible cross-chain marketplaces. Certain rare NFT heroes, such as "Genesis Zeus," are described as possessing unique skills and governance capabilities, enabling their holders to participate in Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) voting processes related to the allocation of resources within starfields ^[1].

Examples of heroes and their described abilities include:

• Drow Ranger: Shoots frost-imbued arrows to slow enemies.
• Phantom Lancer: Creates illusions for combat and evasion.
• Templar Assassin: Uses traps to slow enemies and a shield (Refraction) to nullify counterattacks.
• Axe: Taunts enemies to attack him and uses a spinning axe ability (Counter Helix) and an execution ability (Culling Blade).
• Chaos Knight: Summons replicas (phantasms) and can teleport to targets (Chaos Bolt).
• Juggernaut: Uses precise strikes and a spinning blade ability (Blade Fury).
• Doom: Can prevent a single enemy from using spells or receiving healing (Doom) and gains skills by consuming creatures (Devour).
• Elder Titan: Uses a spirit remnant (Astral Spirit) for damage and control, and a stomp ability (Echo Stomp).
• Oracle: Manipulates outcomes for allies and enemies using various abilities, including preventing death for a duration (False Promise).
• Zeus: Utilizes lightning-based attacks that can strike multiple enemies (Arc Lightning) and reveal hidden units (Lightning Bolt), with a global ultimate ability (Thundergod's Wrath). ^[3]

Play-to-Earn 2.0

Dota X incorporates a Play-to-Earn 2.0 model designed to reward players through various in-game activities. Winning teams in battles receive Void Stones (VOS), with the amount based on individual contribution. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of a match is intended to receive additional fragments related to starfield governance rights. Player guilds have the ability to occupy starfields, allowing them to earn DOC tokens through resource extraction activities, such as mining "Mithril Veins." Guilds can also generate revenue by developing and leasing virtual commercial real estate, such as NFT-themed arenas. Participation in the main metaverse storylines, referred to as the "Genesis Quest Chain," can lead to rewards including limited edition NFTs and DOC token airdrops upon completion of objectives like "Sealing the Void Rift." ^[1]

Cross-Dimensional Social

The game is designed to facilitate cross-dimensional social interaction and support user-generated content (UGC). Players are intended to have the ability to customize the rules within their starfields and host events like tournaments or art exhibitions. Revenue from such events, such as ticket sales, can be managed through smart contracts. The platform is planned to support immersive social experiences using Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, with compatibility for devices like Meta Quest 3. NFT heroes are intended to be integrated across different metaverse platforms, potentially appearing in virtual events hosted in other environments like Decentraland. ^[1]

Four-Token

Dota X utilizes a four-token economic framework to manage its in-game economy and ecosystem functions ^[1]:

• OG (OG Esports Token): A functional token on the Chiliz chain used for fan participation in team decisions and serving as a primary currency for in-game purchases ^[1].
• AGS (Aghanim's Shard): An in-game token used for forging weapons and settling rewards. It can be acquired using OG tokens ^[1].
• VOS (Void Stone): A utility asset earned through gameplay activities such as battles and resource gathering. It is used for upgrading equipment, synthesizing NFTs, and covering transaction fees ^[1].
• DOC (Dota X Coin): A governance token with a fixed supply of 1 billion. It is used for Star Realm governance, minting rare NFTs, and cross-chain ecosystem functions. DOC is designed with a deflationary mechanism ^[1].

DOC Tokenomics

The DOC token has a total supply capped at 1 billion tokens. The planned distribution is as follows ^[1]:

• Mining Rewards: 50%
• Weapon Buyback: 30%
• Play-to-Earn: 10%
• Team Incentives: 8%
• Ecosystem Development: 2%

Technology

The underlying architecture of Dota X is built on the Vanguard Protocol, described as a modular blockchain protocol that is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This protocol is intended to support high transaction throughput, aiming to process tens of thousands of transactions per second to facilitate large-scale battles. The game utilizes a Decentralized Identity (DID) system called the "Void Mark," which is designed to allow players to log into any starfield seamlessly while carrying over their assets and achievements. Data privacy within this system is intended to be secured using zero-knowledge proofs ^[1].

The game is developed using the Source 2 engine, which supports features like 4K resolution and ray tracing for visual rendering ^[1].

Funding

In April 2025, Dota X announced the completion of a strategic funding round. The investors included Valve Corporation and Chiliz Labs. The stated purpose of this funding was to support the expansion of the Dota X Web3 gaming ecosystem and to advance the integration of its in-game payment solution, which is based on the Chiliz Chain. This investment marked Valve's formal entry into the blockchain gaming sector.

A spokesperson for Valve stated, "Dota X’s technical architecture aligns closely with Steam’s philosophy of openness and that the company will explore innovative applications of the Play-to-Earn model in future development." ^[2]

Chiliz Labs plans to integrate the Dota X payment system with its Socios.com platform, aiming to provide cryptocurrency payment options for sports clubs and live events. This integration is intended to allow users to purchase items like event tickets or fan tokens directly through the Dota X wallet. Following this funding round, Dota X reached a valuation of $1 billion ^[2].

Partnerships

Dota X has established partnerships with several entities ^[4]:

• Mindra
• BTC City
• Dragon Farm
• UBEX
• Intoverse
• Pop Social
• SUMATI
• SoQuest

Strategic partners mentioned in the context of Valve Corporation's broader activities include Perfect World, HTC, AMD, and NVIDIA ^[1]. Chiliz Chain is described as the foundation of the Chiliz ecosystem, including Fan Tokens and Socios.com, and is noted for having a large sports partnership network ^[1]. OG Esports, founded by Johan 'n0tail' Sundstein, is mentioned in the context of Dota 2's esports history and is associated with the OG token in the Dota X ecosystem ^{[1] [1]}.