Dota 2 Beta Leaked, Details About Game and Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Available

A beta version for the upcoming Dota 2 online title from Valve has apparently been leaked on the web, with many enthusiasts examining every single file and extrapolating a variety of details about not just Dota 2 but also other files that hint at the often rumored Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

Valve is banking big on the upcoming Dota 2 online action real time strategy game, the sequel to one of the most popular mods for WarCraft III, Defense of the Ancients.

It's already held a massive event for the game earlier this year at Gamescom 2011, and it now seems that a very private beta is ran across the world.

Files for this beta have now been leaked on the web, via Kotaku, and Dota fans have examined every one of them in order to uncover new details about the upcoming title.

First up, all the game modes are now known, including Single Draft, All Random, Random Draft, Captains Draft, Captains Mode, Death Mode, and Easy Mode, while there are a lot of assets like character icons, menu screens or spell icons, not to mention audio files for each single character.

Portions of code also hint at a free-to-play mode, similar to what Valve is now doing with Team Fortress 2, while a new intro with the classic bald-headed Valve guy is set to be presented with Dota 2.

Other fans, this time dedicated to Valve's Half-Life franchise, have found, via Game Informer, some interesting files that seem to include weapon information for something called 'ep3', including mentions of a icegun or a flamethrower, weapons that didn't appear up until now in the series, but may be included in the often rumored Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

Valve hasn't commented on the leak, so do take these details with a grain of salt before the company reveals anything official about Dota 2 or Episode 3.