The International 2025 concluded without a new hero reveal, marking a departure from recent tradition that left many fans confused. SirActionSlacks released a 26-minute video explaining why he believes Valve pulled the reveal. He walked viewers through the runic symbols scattered across the venue, merchandise, and stage props. Two Discord groups raced to decode what turned out to be a whole alphabet tied to Dota lore, including references to the demon smith Abzidian and the weapon Demon’s Edge. The level of detail convinced many that a significant announcement was planned.
SirActionSlacks suggested Valve build an elaborate ARG, but did not finish the hero trailer. He said, “What’s more Valve than setting up this giant stage and ARG, all ready to make sense with the big reveal, and then they actually didn’t finish the hero trailer?” He compared the situation to Ringmaster, a hero that was teased extensively before its release but arrived months later with altered visuals and gameplay. That example supports his idea that Valve might hold a reveal until the concept and abilities are final, rather than showing something unfinished.
He also noted that Dota 2 appears healthy. Player numbers are near a multi-year high, and The International 2025 drew strong production and community engagement. The rune hunt itself became a showcase of fan dedication, with players cataloging symbols and trading theories across servers.
