South America’s Dota 2 landscape has shifted following an announcement from paiN Gaming. The organization revealed it would be stepping back from Dota 2, effective immediately, just two months after returning to the ecosystem. The Brazilian team made this critical decision after citing ‘long-term viability issues’ in the space.
The organization posted a farewell message on social media after parting ways with its squad, a Peruvian team that now finds itself out in the cold.
PaiN Leaves Dota 2 After Mere Weeks
In the message posted on social media, paiN Gaming explained that an ‘extensive internal review’ uncovered a risk with continuing deeper into the Dota 2 space. It was found that the viability of Dota 2 esports and internal structure hurdles simply made their efforts unsustainable.
With that being said, the entire team has been dismissed:
- Máximo “Wits” Alza
- Gonzalo “DarkMago” Herrera
- Frank “Frank” Arias
- Elvis “Scofield” De la Cruz Peña
- Yelstin “elmisho” Verde
This move has also impacted all supporting staff associated with paiN Gaming’s Dota 2 efforts.
In February, paiN reentered the Dota 2 space after a six-year hiatus, signing the Peruvian squad and seeking to break into the highest echelons of the landscape.
However, the momentum dried up fast for the team, and an awful finish at ESL One Birmingham did nothing to build confidence in the roster. During paiN’s last stint in Dota 2, the organization managed to qualify for The International, but the team’s trajectory was heavily hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South American Dota 2 scene has been impacted by several setbacks of late, many of which started with the dissolution of the Dota Pro Circuit back in 2022.
Are you surprised to see paiN Gaming withdraw from Dota 2? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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