Dota 2
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Dota 2 player count: 987,282 on Steam on Oct. 23, after passing 1 million for the first time since 2022
Dota 2 peaked at 987,282 concurrent players on Steam on Oct. 23, 2026, according to Valve's most played chart, which ranked it No. 2 for another week, behind only Counter-Strike 2. At 4:10 a.m. ET on Oct. 24, 697,522 people were playing it. Earlier in October, Dota 2 passed 1 million players on Steam on three days, topping out at 1,034,251 on Oct. 11, its best day since October 2022. The climb runs back to May, when the monthly peak bottomed out at 664,213, and picked up with The International 2026 in August and the Trove of Terror on Oct. 6. The all-time record is more than 1.29 million, set in March 2016.
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Dota 2 is having its best October since 2022. Here’s how many people play Valve’s MOBA, what pushed it past 1 million again and how it compares on Steam.
How many people play Dota 2? Dota 2 peaked at 987,282 concurrent players on Steam on Oct. 23, 2026, according to Valve’s most played chart, which ranked it No. 2, the same spot as a week earlier. At 4:10 a.m. ET on Oct. 24, 697,522 people were playing it.
Dota 2 runs on PC only, through Steam on Windows, macOS and Linux, with no console versions.
Dota 2 player count by month
| Period | Steam peak | Average players |
|---|---|---|
| March 2016 | More than 1.29 million | All-time record |
| October 2022 | 1,038,848 | 456,303 |
| October 2025 | 858,940 | 538,998 |
| May 2026 | 664,213 | 422,693 |
| August 2026 | 981,123 | 617,078 |
| September 2026 | 919,002 | 571,294 |
| Oct. 11, 2026 | 1,034,251 | Best day since October 2022 |
| Oct. 23, 2026 | 987,282 | No. 2 on Valve’s chart |
The monthly peak bottomed out at 664,213 in May 2026, then climbed about 56% to the Oct. 11 high. No month between November 2022 and September 2026 reached 1 million. The average over the last 30 days, 628,396 players at any moment, runs about 17% above October 2025’s 538,998.
What lifted Dota 2 in 2026. Valve built the run in three steps:
- The Dark CarnivalOn June 25, opened a free story event, Midnight Run, starring Legion Commander and Hoodwink, with five Automaton Personas and 20 hero sets. June peaked at 862,639, against 664,213 in May.
- The International 2026Ran its Main Event in Shanghai from Aug. 20 to 23, and Team Spirit beat Team Vision 3-2 in the Grand Finals. August peaked at 981,123 on Aug. 23, Grand Finals day, the highest monthly peak since November 2022.
- The Trove of Terror, on the evening of Oct. 6, brought 15 new item sets, a returning Drow Ranger Arcana, a new Tidehunter Arcana, Maw of the Megalodon, and new looks for the Tormentor and Roshan. The daily peak rose from 834,698 on Oct. 6, set before the release, to 1,019,704 on Oct. 10 and 1,034,251 on Oct. 11, and hit 1,009,122 again on Oct. 18.
Gameplay patch 7.41f landed on Sept. 15, within the 7.41 cycle that started on March 24.
How Dota 2 compares on Steam
| Game | Chart rank, Oct. 23 | Steam peak, Oct. 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 1 | 1,274,983 |
| Dota 2 | 2 | 987,282 |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | 3 | 809,926 |
| Deadlock | 5 | 233,703 |
| Apex Legends | 6 | 225,732 |
Dota 2 trails Valve’s shooter by 287,701 players, as our CS2 player count page shows, and leads Krafton’s battle royale by 177,356, covered on our PUBG player count page. Valve’s newer hero shooter drew about a quarter of Dota 2’s crowd, as our Deadlock player count page shows.
Valve hasn’t dated the next gameplay patch or the 2027 edition of its world championship, as our The International 2027 location page explains. Valve announced TI 2026 in February 2026, about six months before the event.
This page is updated as soon as Valve’s chart posts Dota 2’s Saturday and Sunday peaks or Valve ships its next gameplay patch.
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FAQ
How many people play Dota 2?
Dota 2 peaked at 987,282 concurrent players on Steam on Oct. 23, 2026, according to Valve’s most played chart, and 697,522 were playing at 4:10 a.m. ET on Oct. 24.
Did Dota 2 pass 1 million players in 2026?
Yes. Dota 2 passed 1 million concurrent players on Steam on Oct. 10, 11 and 18, 2026, with a high of 1,034,251 on Oct. 11, its best day since October 2022.
What is Dota 2's all-time peak?
More than 1.29 million concurrent players on Steam in March 2016, still the game’s record.
Is Dota 2 dying?
Dota 2 ranks No. 2 on Valve’s most played chart, and its monthly peak has climbed from 664,213 in May 2026 to 1,034,251 in October. Its average player count over the last 30 days runs about 17% above October 2025.
Why did Dota 2's player count go up in October?
Valve released the Trove of Terror on the evening of Oct. 6, 2026, with 15 new item sets, a returning Drow Ranger Arcana and a new Tidehunter Arcana, and the daily Steam peak rose from 834,698 that day to 1,034,251 on Oct. 11.
Where does Dota 2 rank on Steam?
Dota 2 ranked No. 2 on Valve’s most played chart for Oct. 23, 2026, the same spot as a week earlier, behind Counter-Strike 2 and ahead of PUBG: Battlegrounds.
Is Dota 2 free?
Yes. Dota 2 is free to play on Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux, with paid cosmetics.
Who won The International 2026?
Team Spirit, 3-2 over Team Vision in the Grand Finals on Aug. 23, 2026, at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai.
What is the latest Dota 2 patch?
Gameplay patch 7.41f, released on Sept. 15, 2026, within the 7.41 cycle that started on March 24.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
What was Dota 2’s best Steam day in October 2026?
Dota 2 peaked at 1,034,251 players on Steam on Oct. 11, 2026, its best day since October 2022.
Your call
How often do you play Dota 2?
