Lasse “Matumbaman” Urpalainen, one of Dota 2’s most respected players and a champion at The International 2017, has offered an unfiltered look at why he stepped away from the scene.
In a recent appearance on Khezu’s podcast, Unspoken, he described the emotional toll of the Dota 2 environment and why its community pushed him further from the spotlight. He expressed, “I don’t like the Dota community, to be honest. It’s just, the toxicity is out of hand. I think it’s not healthy to be subjected to it.”
He added, “Even though I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones that wasn’t subjected to as much negativity as some other people, but just playing public matchmaking is enough,” capturing a sentiment many players have echoed across years of discussion.
Dota 2 has long carried a reputation for extreme toxicity, a topic debated on Reddit, YouTube, and other social media platforms often. Players regularly cite verbal abuse, griefing, and hostile match threads as reasons the game feels mentally exhausting.
Some fans joke that muting teammates is simply part of the onboarding process, while others openly wonder whether the community can realistically improve. Analysts and creators contribute to the conversation with videos titled “Why is Dota 2 So Toxic?” and “Why is Toxicity so normalized?”, documenting how negative behavior has become ingrained in the game’s culture.
During the interview, Matumbaman explained how the environment affected him professionally and personally. “I didn’t even use my social media for the last two, three years. I didn’t want to handle that, ‘cause it’s too much for your brain and it really messes with your head,” he shared.
His decision to withdraw from social platforms came as he prepared to exit competitive play, choosing to avoid unnecessary stress once he knew he was ready to step away from esports entirely. While acknowledging that maintaining an online presence could help with business opportunities, he said that “maximizing money is not really what I want to do.”
His comments add weight to an ongoing conversation surrounding mental health and community behavior within Dota 2. As more current and former pros speak openly about the pressures associated with the scene, many hope Matumbaman’s perspective encourages a deeper push for cultural improvement.
