14 DAY TRIAL // The developers in charge of DOTA 2 at Valve are announcing that they are launching a new Winter Battle Pass for the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena experience, with a range of quests and rewards while also expanding the core features of the title with the Conduct Summary.
The game is also getting a relatively long list of match engine changes via a new patch that aims to improve performance when it comes to low-end machines, improve the rendering system for a variety of content and also fixes some bugs.
Gamers can take a look at the full range of tweaks that have been delivered to DOTA 2 by clicking on the button at the end of this article.
The new Winter Battle Pass is designed as a companion for the coming season of competitive MOBA action that the title offers and costs 7.99 dollars or Euro.
Gamers who pick it up will be able to choose between three Hero paths before each match to get special objectives, which deliver Battle Points when they are completed and those, in turn, can be redeemed for special DOTA 2 treasure.
Valve states, "Give your allies a tactical edge as the cunning Support, crush your enemies and rally your teammates as the unwavering Carry, or strike out alone to direct the flow of battle to your team's favor as the daring Solo. You can change your selection during the picking phase to match the needs of each game."
DOTA 2 also features wagers and a Conduct Summary
The Winter Battle Pass also adds a wagering system, powered by a weekly allowance of 1,000 Tokens.
The system allows players to bet on a match before it starts and to earn Battle Points if they manage to deliver a victory, with an option to tip some of the winnings to a capable ally or a solid opponent.
The Battle Pass also comes complete with unique terrain, frost creeps, extended download periods for replays and more information about the coming Shanghai major and the events linked to it.
Valve is also delivering a Conduct Summary system for the DOTA 2 community, designed to allow each player to see how their behavior is affecting allies and enemies alike via a list of all the reports, commendations, and abandons linked to their previous 25 matches.
According to the company, the extra transparency should make it easier for gamers to evaluate their behavior and to modify it for the better in the long term.
Valve also explains that a single disconnect because of circumstances beyond a gamer's control will not get them into the low priority queue and that even if there are instances where players use reports just to be mean, the system was built to accommodate such moments if the rest of a player's actions are not disruptive.
The fact that the studio shows how a particular DOTA 2 fan compares with the rest of the community should make it easier for someone to evaluate how he impacts the game and to tweak his behavior.