The first matches of the group stage of The International are set to take place next week, and the developers have prepared a small surprise: in-game advertising will be strictly prohibited. Players will not be allowed to include sponsors in their usernames, and team logos on banners and bases will also be "clean".

Several reasons could explain this decision, and it's doubtful that viewer convenience is the primary concern. One possible explanation is Danish legislation, which could theoretically outlaw certain sponsors. However, this theory has its drawbacks, as the ban is limited to in-game content. If athletes arrive with ads on their uniforms, Valve is unlikely to completely distance itself from involvement — other regulations would still apply.

Another hypothesis is that Valve is once again demonstrating its stance on esports, particularly in areas not directly related to the relationship between players and developers. For clubs, this ban is an unpleasant surprise as it disrupts partnership obligations. However, Valve, which has clearly taken a step back from prioritizing esports, likely isn't too concerned about this issue and prefers not to see questionable brands in their game.

Regardless of the reason, this is another move away from esports as a business. Hopefully, at least the viewers will appreciate this change.

Main image: dota2.com


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