The International 2025: Starting prize pool revealed

Valve has officially announced the starting prize pool for The International 2025 in Dota 2. As in previous years, it amounts to $1,600,000. This sum has remained the standard starting point for many years, after which the pool increases through in-game purchases of the Battle Pass tied to the main tournament of the year.

For several months now, rumors have been circulating in the community about a possible return of the old Battle Pass model — featuring events, collectible Arcanas, and other cosmetic items. This format was previously responsible for the sharp growth of the prize pool. However, there is currently no official confirmation from Valve regarding the return of the classic Battle Pass.

The history of The International prize pools:

• The International 2011 — $1,600,000
• The International 2012 — $1,600,000
• The International 2013 — $2,874,380
• The International 2014 — $10,923,977
• The International 2015 — $18,429,613
• The International 2016 — $20,770,640
• The International 2017 — $24,787,916
• The International 2018 — $25,532,177
• The International 2019 — $34,330,068
• The International 2021 — $40,018,195 (all-time record)
• The International 2022 — $18,930,775
• The International 2023 — $3,380,455
• The International 2024 — $2,602,164
• The International 2025 — $1,600,000 (starting pool)

Thus, recent years have seen a decline in prize pool amounts due to changes in the monetization model. The community now awaits whether Valve will return to the old system that once made The International the top prize pool record holder in esports history.

The International 2025 will take place from 04.09.2025 to 14.09.2025 in Hamburg, Germany, featuring 16 teams.

Earlier, Cyberscore reported that all participants of The International 2025 have been determined.