 After being tested extensively by Valve , Dota 2 was first unveiled to the public at the inaugural International event , the game 's premier eSport tournament , at Gamescom in 2011 . To coincide with the event , Valve began sending out closed beta invitations ; the first few invites were sent out shortly after Gamescom . During the event , Newell speculated that Dota 2 would likely ship in 2012 , despite original plans for a full release in late 2011 . In September 2011 , Valve scrapped its previous development and release plans , which would have kept the game in its closed beta phase for over a year . The new plans , which IceFrog revealed via an online announcement , were to begin beta testing as soon as possible and to implement the remaining heroes afterward . Simultaneously , Valve announced that the non @-@ disclosure agreement for the beta was being lifted , allowing testers to discuss the game and their experiences publicly . After nearly two years of beta testing , Dota 2 was officially released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on July 9 , 2013 , and later for OS X and Linux on July 18 , 2013 . Two months following the game 's release , Newell claimed that updates to Dota 2 generated up to three percent of global internet traffic . In December 2013 , the final restrictions against unlimited global access to Dota 2 were lifted after the game 's infrastructure and servers were substantially bolstered . In March 2016 , a large update fixed many long @-@ standing bugs and issues with the game , while also adding many community requested features . 
 After being tested extensively by Valve , Dota 2 was first unveiled to the public at the inaugural International event , the game <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>premier eSport tournament , at Gamescom in 2011 . To coincide with the event , Valve began sending out closed beta invitations ; the first few invites <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> sent out shortly after Gamescom . During the event , Newell speculated that Dota 2 would likely ship in 2012 , despite original plans for a full release in late 2011 . In September 2011 , Valve scrapped its previous development and release plans , which would <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> kept the game in its closed beta phase for over a year . The new plans , which IceFrog revealed via an online announcement , <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> to begin beta testing as soon as possible and to implement the remaining heroes afterward . Simultaneously , Valve announced that the non @-@ disclosure agreement for the beta was being lifted , allowing testers to discuss the game and their experiences publicly . After nearly two years of beta testing , Dota 2 was officially released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on July 9 , 2013 , and later for OS X and Linux on July 18 , 2013 . Two months following the game <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>release , Newell<a href='been_done' title='6'><mark></mark></a> claimed that updates to Dota 2 generated up to three percent of global internet traffic . In December 2013 , the final restrictions against unlimited global access to Dota 2 <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> lifted after the game <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>infrastructure and servers <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> substantially bolstered . In March 2016 , a large update fixed many long @-@ standing bugs and issues with the game , while also adding many community requested features . 
After being tested extensively by Valve , Dota 2 was first unveiled to da public at the inaugural International event , the game  premier eSport tournament , at Gamescom in 2011 . To coincide with the event , Valve began sending out closed beta invitations ; the first few invites was sent out shortly after Gamescom . durin the event , Newell speculated that Dota 2 would likely ship in 2012 , despite original plans for a full release in late 2011 . In September 2011 , Valve scrapped its previous development and release plans , which would done kept the game in its closed beta phase fir ova a year . Tdanew plans , which IceFrog revealed via an online announcement , was to begin beta testing as soon as possible and to implement the remaining heroes afterward . Simultaneously , Valve announced dat the non @-@ disclosure agreement for the beta was bein lifted , allowing testers to discuss thdaame and their experiences publicly . After nearly 2 yrs of beta testing , Dota 2 was officially released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on July 9 , 2013 , and later fa OS X and Linux on July 18 , 2013 . Two months following the game  release , Newell done claimed that updates to Dota 2 generated up to three percent of global internet traffic . In December 2013 , the final restrictions against unlimited global access to Dota 2 was lifted after thedame  infrastructure and servers was substantially bolstered . In March 2016 , a large update fixed many long @-@ standin bugs and issues w the dae , while also adding many community requested features .