DOTA 2 International

Valve Software’s prize pool for the fifth International Dota 2 Championship began its crowd-funding campaign last Thursday night with a $1.6 million purse to start, but that number has skyrocketed in the several days since. Sales of the TI5 Compendium, a sort of virtual “program” offering in-game challenges, fantasy league-style predictions, and in-game cosmetic rewards have since contributed an additional $3.9 million to the tournament’s potential winnings. Completing activities in the Compendium increases its level and increases the speed at which rewards are unlocked. However, the points earned through these activities can also be purchased and applied to further speed up the leveling process. While the Compendium’s base price is $9.99, Valve is selling an ...