Gabe Newell Still Plays Dota 2 Daily at 62

Gabe Newell, the 62-year-old co-founder of Valve, still plays at least 1 match of Dota 2 every single day — and he says players regularly tell him to uninstall. Speaking at The International 2025, Newell shared why the game has kept him hooked for over 16 years.

'Basically Every Week Someone Calls Me a Noob'

Newell, affectionately known as 'GabeN' or 'G-Man' in gaming circles, is now semi-retired but remains deeply committed to his daily Dota habit. He openly admits he is far from skilled at the game he helped create.

'Basically every week someone in chat tells me I'm a noob and should uninstall,' Newell said during TI 2025. 'But that kind of language actually reflects their passion and investment. That's why I've kept playing Dota for all these years.'

Despite logging over 800 hours, Newell says he is still nowhere near competitive level. 'I love playing, but I'm not even close to the skilled players — 800 hours in and still a noob!' he added.

Why Dota 2 Never Gets Old for Its Creator

Newell explained that Dota 2 stands apart from every other game Valve has developed. Most developers grow tired of their own creations because they see every flaw. Dota 2, he says, is the exception.

'This is the most addictive game we've ever made,' Newell stated. 'As a developer, you usually get fatigued by your own game because you see all the problems. But Dota 2 is different — we'd finish coding for the day, then go home and keep playing until 2 or 3 in the morning.'

He pointed to the game's constantly evolving decision-making as the core of its appeal:

• Rapid strategic shifts — plans change every 5 seconds during a match
• Endless replayability — winning makes you want another game, and so does losing
• Deep complexity — even after 800+ hours, there is always more to learn
• Team dynamics — every match feels fundamentally different from the last

A 16-Year Love Affair With Dota

Newell first publicly declared his obsession with Dota back in 2009, making him one of the game's longest-running advocates. Dota 2 officially launched in 2013 and remains one of the most popular competitive titles in esports, with The International regularly offering prize pools in the tens of millions of dollars.

The fact that Valve's own founder still plays daily speaks volumes about the game's enduring design. While many live-service games struggle to retain players beyond a few years, Dota 2 continues to command a dedicated global player base on Steam.

What This Says About Game Design Longevity

Newell's comments offer a rare window into what makes a game truly timeless. His key insight — that constant decision-making and plan revision create an addictive loop — aligns with what game designers have long theorized about emergent gameplay.

For Valve, having its co-founder still genuinely engaged with a 12-year-old product is arguably the strongest endorsement any game could receive. It also suggests that Dota 2 will continue receiving support and updates for the foreseeable future.

Whether Newell ever escapes the 'noob' label remains to be seen — but after 16 years and 800+ hours, he doesn't seem to mind.