Even before DOTA 2 shook off the "beta" tag, Valve presented the iconic Diretide event to celebrate Halloween. Diretide's first iteration was presented to players in 2012 and needless to say, it became a hit. In the following year, Valve released Diretide's second iteration after DOTA 2 full launch.
As many had expected, the event was an instant hit amongst players and many looked forward to its third iteration in 2014. Unfortunately, Valve never issued a new Diretide iteration for a long time, not until 2020. Be it the specific Diretide game mode or the plethora of new cosmetics, the event became a massive hit amongst DOTA 2 players.
Given that Diretide made a return in 2020, it is widely expected that the iconic Halloween event will be making a return in 2021 with its fourth iteration. Here's what we know so far:
Latest News
29 October 2021 -
With the unexpected release of sub-patch 7.30e, it seems like Valve has temporarily shelved their plans for Diretide 2021. However, the developers have previously committed to a second Battle Pass before this year ends. Having said that, it seems like the second Battle Pass of the year along with a Diretide or Frosthaven-thtmed event will be released in November.
Nevertheless, considering the amount of balancing changes implemented in sub-patch 7.30e, it seems like the developers are satisfied with the in-game meta for the time being.
28 October 2021 -
It seems like only a matter of hours before the Diretide 2021 update is released in the main game client. The update is also expected to be accompanied by the second Battle Pass of the year. Speculations regarding the upcoming cosmetics in the Battle Pass has been raging in the community.
While some believe that Anti-Mage's female persona will be making a return with brand new immortal cosmetics, others think it is about time that Faceless Void gets his much deserved Arcana. However, until and unless the update eventually releases, it remains difficult to confirm which cosmetics might be released with the second Battle Pass of 2021.
27 October 2021 -
While Valve is yet to announce any information regarding the release of update 7.31, the entire community is growing restless for the post-TI patch. Considering the instant ban/pick of Magnus in 90% of public matches, it seems obvious that we could all use a shift in the meta.
Nevertheless, Valve is infamous for the delay in patch releases and it seems fairly evident that update 7.31 is also facing turbulence. Having said that, I personally believe that the update will definitely make up for all the delay once it is finally released.
25 October 2021 -
With over a week having passed since the end of The International 10, it is expected that the post-TI patch will be releasing soon. Additionally, it has been heavily speculated that the patch could be releasing on 29th October, two days before Halloween 2021.
22 October 2021 -
It has been a few days since The International 10 ended and fans have been eagerly waiting for the post-TI patch to release. Given that the last edition of Diretide released on 29th October 2020, fans are expecting a similar date for this year's release as well.
Considering the fact that the upcoming DPC Season will allegedly begin in the last week of November, it is also expected that Valve will allow players with at least a month to practise on the new patch. Additionally, Marci is also expected to be released with the upcoming patch.
18 October 2021
The International 10 finished on a high with Team Spirit being crowned as the champions. However, the end of the championship means that the post-TI patch will be released very soon. Given that Valve had previously announced that their will be a second in-game Battle Pass in 2021 after TI ends, it is highly speculated that Diretide is making a return.
Having said that, the post-TI patch is expected to release either during this week or the next one. It is highly suggested that the second Battle Pass of the year as well as Diretide will release with the upcoming 7.31 patch.
7 October 2021
With TI10 starting from today, it is expected that the post-TI patch will bring forth the final Battle Pass of the year. It has been highly speculated that the second Battle Pass of the year will be Diretide-themed.
Having said that, the entire community is extremely hyped about the ongoing DOTA 2 championship and it is only a matter of weeks before the Diretide update releases.
1 October 2021
It's now officially October and the spooky season is nearly here. Get ready for some Halloween high-jinx in DOTA 2!
When is Diretide 2021
All three editions of Diretide has been held during the spooky season of Halloween. Here are the dates on which Diretide was released in the past.
- 30th October 2012
- 14th November 2013
- 29 October 2020
Having said that, it is expected that Diretide 2021 could be released either in late-October or early-November. Given that The International (TI) 10 was rescheduled to be held in October due to issues about the venue, Valve could release Diretide 2021 along with the post-TI patch update.
Considering the fact that TI10 ends on 17th October, it is almost the perfect time to release DOTA 2's Halloween event for players. Additionally, it would also help the community in overcoming the usual post-TI depression which kicks in every year.
Diretide 2021 Game Mode
Diretide has always featured a custom game mode where players are pitted in two teams. This game mode features a bunch of additional modifications and changes from a traditional game of DOTA 2. On top of that, Valve has previously made modifications to the custom game mode from previous iterations.
Having said that, earlier this year, dataminers came across certain files related to Greevils. For the uninitiated, Greevils and Greevil Taffys have a major role in the Diretide custom game mode. With that in mind, Valve could be planning to implement various changes to the game mode of Diretide 2021.
New Skins in Diretide 2021
Although there has been no official release from Valve regarding the release of Diretide 2021, the developers have confirmed that there will be a second Battle Pass this year. Given that the Nemestice Battle Pass was released in June, the second Battle Pass could be introduced as a part of Diretide 2021.
Given that Diretide has always featured a ton of cosmetics for players to unlock or purchase, it is safe to say that the fourth iteration of the Halloween-themed event will also follow suit. However, until and unless Valve confirms Diretide's fourth iteration, all the possible contents for the Battle Pass remains a mystery.
Read More: Everything wrong with the Nemestice Battle Pass in DOTA 2
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