After investing around 7,000 hours into Dota 2, I’ve decided to step away from the game. The matchmaking system is a significant issue, often leading to lopsided ranked matches where the score is 20-5 within the first 10 minutes. There’s a glaring skill disparity among players within the same rank medal, and it’s clear that the ranked and matchmaking systems are overdue for a complete overhaul.

Another major problem is the toxic community. Despite selecting my preferred language, I’m frequently queued with players who don’t speak it, which creates unnecessary communication barriers. This game no longer feels like the Dota 2 I once loved. Valve seems undecided about what they want for this game’s future.

Every patch appears to be tailored to the professional scene while simultaneously introducing features or changes aimed at attracting new players. The game’s identity feels diluted, and it might as well be called "Dota 17" at this point. I used to enjoy playing with friends, but we rarely play together anymore. This has only made the experience of dealing with random matchmaking even worse.

Ultimately, I’ve come to terms with the state of the game and decided it’s time to move on. I’ll be looking for another game to invest my time in, but I’ll always remember the highs and lows of my Dota journey.