Deadlock isn't a death sentence for Dota 2 — it's "a gateway," says ESL product manager Avo+

ESL One Birmingham 2026 concluded amid a major Dota 2 patch rollout from Valve.

Valve deployed patch 7.41 just before playoffs, prompting overnight checks by ESL production and broadcast teams.

ESL product manager Álvaro 'Avo+' Sánchez Velasco praised the patch design and said the team avoids contacting players the day after a patch.

Avo+ argued Deadlock could serve as a gateway for shooter players to discover Dota 2 rather than threaten it.