Valve has released a small but lethal update that might just kill third-party applications including the notorious Overwolf.
Valve has released an update that specifically targeted third-party applications and this has just killed Overwolf, one of the most used third-party apps for Dota 2 players. The update was launched on Feb. 28 which disabled some functions that are used by third-party tools. This update also blocks access to player profiles during the pregame phase of matches.
Here are the full updates that Valve released:
- Disabled the "record" command in matchmaking games.
- Disabled a large number of console commands during matchmaking games that could be used to introspect client state.
- Player profiles can no longer be accessed in matchmaking during the pregame phase. They can still be accessed once the picking phase ends.
This update would affect many third-party applications but it especially takes a toll on Overwolf.
What is Overwolf?
There are many third-party applications that help Dota 2 players in-game. But the most popular one in the community is Overwolf. This is a software that provides extensions or programs for video games in general. Dota 2 players use an Overwolf extension that would give them a layout full of player information during the drafting phase.
This is how it goes. When players are loaded into a match, Overwolf immediately pulls up data for all players in that game. You can see their most-picked heroes, their best winrate heroes, their go-to items, and more. With all this info, Overwolf also tells you which heroes you should ban, which would be the enemies' strongest heroes. On top of that, it also has a "smurf indicator" that attempts to detect a smurf in the game based on the total matches played and their winrate. This obviously gives a bit of an advantage to players, allowing them to strategize and counter the opponents from the very beginning.
Is using Overwolf considered cheating?
Using Overwolf or any similar applications is not cheating, at least as per Valve's standards. If it is considered cheating, a lot of accounts that used Overwolf would've been banned, but that is not the case. However, it is clear that Valve does not want any applications to meddle with matchmaking following this abrupt update.
Back in 2018, Valve announced a wave of bans for cheaters. The game publisher stated, "We do not support or condone the use of any third-party modifications during matchmade games."
A user replied to the Tweet to inquire if Overwolf is allowed. To this question, Overwolf itself replied that it is "safe to use" as it does not modify or play with the game files. The application also emphasized that it works with game developers to ensure it doesn't break the Terms of Services.
While it may be true that Overwolf hovered just near the limit, this still doesn't end well for the app as it seems Valve dislikes the idea of pregame advantages.
How does this update affect the community?
A portion of the community celebrated the update. But some question if this is good enough. Users on Reddit and Twitter have mentioned that there are other ways for players to access data. But at least for now, this update will reduce the overwhelming usage of Overwolf. Many players have had to private their accounts to avoid being a victim of Overwolf and they can now breathe a sigh of relief.
However, a part of the community feels like this update will encourage smurfing. Typically, smurfs will spam a hero that can solo carry a game and climb up the ranks fast. With Overwolf, some were able to ban the smurf's hero pool and anticipate their gameplay.
Nevertheless, this update will certainly shift pubs to make the drafting phase more equal - regardless of who it benefits.
Valve is on a roll with back-to-back updates that first banned 40,000 cheaters from Dota 2 and now blocking third-party applications from meddling with matches. What will they do next? Stay tuned to Esports.gg for more Dota 2 news!