Valve president Gabe Newell offers hilarious self-burn ahead of Dota 2's The International

Newell is a legend in the gaming industry. He is the co-founder and the president of the Valve Corporation, creator of the Steam gaming platform and multiple mega-titles such as Dota, Portal, and Half-Life.

Ahead of Dota 2’s The International this week, Newell released a hilarious promotional clip talking about the hallowed esports event. 

"Fourteen years ago, we held the first International in Cologne, Germany," he said in the short video shared on the socials.

"For me, that first International was awesome. It was awesome to see the skill of the players and the enthusiasm of the community. Before that International I really enjoyed the game, but after the International I loved the game.

"It's not just the game I love but the community. Sure, people talk sh*t at me in chat, and about once a week people say, 'Hey noob, uninstall the game and die.' But that's really about their enthusiasm for the game, and the energy that they bring. That's why after all these years, I still play Dota every day."

The International 2025 is the fourteenth annual edition of the event, taking place in Hamburg, Germany, and culminating on Sunday.