The release of Arcane 2 has reignited conversations across the gaming community, particularly between fans of League of Legends and its long-time rival, DOTA 2.
Following the conclusion of Worlds 2024, the League of Legends community shifted its focus to Arcane 2, the sequel to Riot Games’ critically acclaimed animated series that explores the stories of champions in Runeterra.
Season 2 delves deeper into the events unfolding in Piltover and Zaun, expanding on the origins of iconic champions like Jayce, Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn. Much like its predecessor, the series quickly became a global sensation, sparking widespread discussion and earning a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, this success hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans of DOTA 2. On Reddit, a DOTA 2 player expressed their frustration, lamenting the lackluster state of their community’s media and competitive scene:
“Dragon’s Blood was a disjointed mess and incredibly meh. This year’s TI was completely forgettable, in fact I did. Compare that to this year’s Worlds where the production was off the charts. We’re also seeing the same familiar faces every TI, Fly is 31 and still getting there. Valve can’t even pony up the tiny budget it takes to run the Late Game show.”
“I’m also incredibly salty that Riot keeps copying everything Valve does but actually puts resources into it”
Has DOTA 2 Been Left Behind by League of Legends? For years, DOTA 2 has struggled to maintain relevance compared to League of Legends. The viewership for DOTA 2’s tournament has been steadily declining, with TI 2024 recording a 17% drop compared to previous years. Additionally, the tournament’s once-massive prize pools are no longer a significant draw.
Meanwhile, League of Legends continues to thrive. With the dominance of teams like T1 and the enduring legacy of Faker, League viewership grows stronger every year. The Worlds 2024 finals alone drew nearly 7 million concurrent viewers, showcasing the game’s incredible popularity.
On top of that, the resounding success of Arcane Season 2 further cements Riot Games’ ability to captivate audiences beyond the competitive arena.
Riot may not offer the astronomical prize pools associated with DOTA 2, but the game’s community is far larger and more engaged. The popularity of Arcane highlights the vast gap between the two games, reinforcing League of Legends’ position as the dominant force in the MOBA genre.
A Growing Divide Between Two Rivals It’s becoming increasingly evident that League of Legends has outpaced DOTA 2 not only in terms of its competitive scene but also in its ability to create compelling content that resonates with a broader audience. The success of Arcane Season 2 serves as yet another testament to Riot’s vision and the enduring appeal of the League of Legends universe.
While DOTA 2 fans may continue to look back fondly on their game’s glory days, the future seems firmly in the hands of League of Legends.
The release of Arcane Season 2 only further widens the gap between these two legendary games, solidifying League’s place as a phenomenon in gaming and esports.