Soundproof Booths Are Back In The International 2023

Many issues arose at The Internationals 2022. One of them was Valve’s decision not to soundproof the booths, which caused several issues, resulting in the competitive integrity of the tournament. Valve has learned a valuable lesson from this incident. Thus, soundproof booths will return in The International 2023.

Significance of Booths 

Soundproof booths played a significant part in The Internationals. It has been with the International since its early years. Although there were some problems at first, the tournament organisers were quick on their feet to find solutions. The booths also played a significant part in the fans’ memories.

Valve’s Statement

In the latest Valve blog post, Valve explained why they wanted a boothless mainstage in TI 11. Valve wanted to give players a better setup. Players prefer to play with their gears, such as keyboards, mice and headsets in matches. With booths, the staff have a harsh time switching those gears after matches.

Every setup was done at the last second, as they constantly changed each piece of equipment after each match. Moreover, it gives players unnecessary stress during their pre-game warmup as they race with the staff for their equipment over a booth setup. Valve had been testing boothless setups for some time, and they were confident TI 11 was the right time to implement for Dota 2. Although it resolved the gear issues, more issues arose. As the stage was not sound-proof, it gave an advantage to English-speaking teams.

Moreover, in The International 2022, Fnatic even accused one of their opponents of using “ crowd noise” and “shout casting” to their benefit. There were also multiple hygienic issues, as the tournament organisers decided not to use soundproof booths.

A couple of reports of players finding ear wax left on the tournaments’ earplugs make some fans question Valve’s hygiene procedures for one of the most prestigious tournaments in esports. Fans can now rest assured, knowing there won’t be issues similar to the year prior at The International 2023.

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Image Source: Valve