Norwegian esports organization HEROIC has officially exited the Dota 2 competitive scene after two years, citing long-term financial sustainability concerns despite the success of its South America-based team.
In a statement, HEROIC said it was “with a heavy heart” that it is stepping away from Dota 2, explaining that while the roster delivered strong results and built a fanbase, the division ultimately failed to meet financial expectations.
“Despite competitive success, a growing fanbase, and significant commercial efforts, the financial results ultimately fell short, making it unsustainable for us in the long term,” the organization said.
All players, including Yuma, TaiLung, Wisper, Thiolicor, and KJ, as well as the staff have been released from their contracts and are now free agents. However, the roster intends to stay together and continue competing in upcoming tournaments under a new banner.
‘Dota is a tough game to commercialise’
HEROIC Chief Gaming Officer Robin Nymann described the move as a difficult but necessary decision.
“The unfortunate reality is that Dota is a tough game to commercialise, and at HEROIC we have not been able to make it bear fruit for a long time now,” Nymann said in post on X.
Nymann added that he will continue supporting the team outside of his role and is actively helping them find a new organization.
Coach kaffs also shared his sentiments, ruing the timing of the decision but explaining that he understands the reasons for it.
“Disapointing news that got us off-guard, but I can’t say I don’t understand the reasons behind the decision. I am personally frustrated with the timing and wish things had been different, but I also understand that we are also to blame for things getting to this point,” he said on X.
HEROIC, known for its CS2 squad, entered the Dota 2 scene in January 2024 and quickly rose to prominence in the South American region.
The team dominated regional qualifiers but struggled to convert that success to LAN tournaments, posting mid-tier finishes at events such as ESL One Birmingham 2024, DreamLeague Season 23, and The International 2024.
Their breakthrough came the following season after Parker joined the team, as they secured SA’s first tier-1 international LAN title at PGL Wallachia Season 2. HEROIC tapped Yuma to replace Parker and Wisper to replace Davai Lama, and they continued to deliver respectable results, including a top-six finish at TI 2025.
HEROIC had their most recent appearance at PGL Wallachia Season 8, where they placed 7th-8th and got $40,000 in prize money.
HEROIC’s departure comes just a month after Brazilian organization paiN Gaming also exited Dota 2, indicating concerns around the financial viability of Valve’s MOBA title for esports organizations.
