The International 4 prize pool has reached over $10,000,000, which exceeds the total amount of prize money given throughout the game's competitive history. The crowd funding has reached the final available stretch goal for the Compendium so far, despite the introduction of additional goals earlier this month.
The prize pool for The International 4 is now in excess of $10,000,000, smashing its previous targets and exceeding the total amount of prize money given in DotA competitions since the beginning of the competitive scene. The Compendium, which is sold by Valve in the game client, offers new rewards to the owners for each stretch goal reached. These include items, loading screens and custom in-game effects. For each Compendium purchase, $2.50 are added to the total prize pool of the tournament.
The prize pool now dwarfs the starting prize money of $1,600,000, meaning that around 3,360,000 Compendiums have been bought in total. The prize money is split between the eight teams that place the highest in the tournament. With this huge surge in Compendium sales the majority of the prize pool is now provided by the players, fans and spectators of the game and not the game creators themselves.
The first version of The International took place in 2011 and the first place prize pool of $1,000,000 seems meager by comparison. The soaring increase in available prize winnings for DotA2 players was brought by the high amount of individuals that decide to put spend their own money to support the competitive scene.
The International 4 will take place from 18th-21st July in Seattle, Washington and be broadcast live from inside the game client.
GosuGamers' The International coverage is brought to you by Alienware. Check out the full coverage here.
