Fan-Funded VideoGame Tournament Reaches Insane $10 Million Prize Pool

Coming this July, The International 4 will be the Biggest and Most Lucrative eSports Tournament the World's Ever Witnessed. The Annual "Dota 2" Championship already Surpassed All Previous Records When its Prize Pool Crossed the $6 Million Mark in May but, Fans Have Kept Adding to the Chest of Treasure, which has Now Grown to over $10 Million. That Number is More than 3 Times the Last High Water Mark for eSports — the Previous Year's International Fell just Shy of $3 Million — and Compares Favorably to the More Established Professional Sports Leagues like the NFL. Set to be Contested by the 16 Best "Dota 2" Teams from July 18, The International 4 is Moving to a Bigger Arena in Order to Accommodate the Game's Exploding Popularity. It will be Hosted in Seattle's 17,000-Seat KeyArena, Having Previously Taken Place at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany and Most Recently at the 2,500-Seat Benaroya Hall.


Tickets for the Weeklong Gathering Start at $99 and Sold Out within an Hour of Becoming Available. VALVe is the Organizer and Chief Funder of TI4, however the Bulk of the Prize Money Comes from Purchases of the In-Game Compendium. It's a Means for "Dota 2" Players to Get Fancy New Cosmetic Items for their Heroes and Other Perks while also Helping to Support the Game they Love. In Classic Crowdfunding Style, Each Major Milestone is Accompanied by Goals that Release Extra Items, Challenges, or Bonuses for Compendium Owners. Having Surpassed the $10 Million Mark, VALVe's Fresh Out of Stretch Goals but, with a Number of Weeks still to Go, the Half-Life Maker will Surely be Able to Figure Out New Ways to Appease its Passionate Audience.




Info Source:

http://www.dota2.com/international/compendium