The Battle Pass has historically been one of Dota 2`s standout features. It was instrumental in generating substantial prize pools for The International and consistently provided players with several months of engaging progression, including challenges like “The Underlords” (or “Catacombs”) and the opportunity to earn cosmetic items. However, for the past two seasons, Valve has forgone the Battle Pass in favor of a Compendium, which caters exclusively to esports enthusiasts. Despite this shift, discussions within the community have emerged regarding a potential return of the legendary Battle Pass in 2025. So, will the Battle Pass actually return, and if so, what might be the timeframe?
Historically, May has often been Valve`s preferred month for releasing the Battle Pass. It typically launched approximately three months before The International commenced.
In recent years, however, we`ve seen scaled-down Compendiums devoid of cosmetic rewards, with their release occurring just a couple of weeks ahead of the start of TI.
Consequently, if Valve intends to release a Battle Pass this year, it could theoretically still debut in late May, considering The International 2025 is scheduled to begin on September 4th. Alternatively, its release might be postponed to early June to align with the three-month lead-up concept. If, on the other hand, another Compendium is on the horizon, its release is likely still over three months away.
Community discussions surrounding a potential 2025 Battle Pass are intensifying. In early May, Dmitry “Korb3n” Belov, the manager for Team Spirit, addressed the topic. He mentioned that Valve has not yet solicited content from teams for the club sets typically included in the Compendium. Belov speculated that if Valve still hasn`t requested this content after the regional qualifiers conclude, it might suggest the developers are considering a return to the Battle Pass format.
Rumors about the Battle Pass`s comeback are even more prevalent among regular players. However, it`s crucial to note that there is no substantial evidence to substantiate these theories. The primary basis for user speculation appears to be Valve`s actions involving old Battle Passes on test servers. Yet, this activity could ultimately be insignificant.
Therefore, the speculation surrounding the Battle Pass is largely driven by the players` own hopes and desires rather than any concrete signals from Valve. Valve itself has given no indication or hint of potentially altering its policy regarding Battle Passes.