Invictus Gaming was one of the most storied organisations in Dota 2, with its many accolades including winning The International 2012.
Chinese esports juggernaut Invictus Gaming (IG) has officially departed the Dota 2 competitive scene as its Dota 2 division has gone inactive, as announced via its official Weibo and X pages on Monday (December 2). This notably follows the end of IG’s partnership with G2 Esports in October.
The organisation left a heartfelt message before officially bowing out, paying tribute to its remarkable 13-year journey in Dota 2. It is certainly a grim day for IG fans, but fret not. The organisation mentioned that this will be a temporary inactivity and that they may still return in the future.
Why did Invictus Gaming disband?
IG did not provide specific reasons for the disbandment of its Dota 2 division, only alluding to “various factors.” However, it can be speculated that internal issues contributed to IG’s inactivity.
“Due to various factors, after comprehensive consideration, the club will temporarily turn iG.DOTA2 division into an inactive state this season,” IG announced.
While performance could be a factor, it seems unlikely, as IG had shown solid form – albeit far from what was expected from the team given their history – in their recent tournaments.
In September, IG qualified for BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 through the Chinese Closed Qualifiers, defeating Team Zero and Azure Ray to secure their spot. However, the roster then competed in the main event under a different name — Yakult Brothers.
Before IG’s inactivity, LGD Gaming followed a similar path. The team struggled not only in international tournaments but also in local qualifiers, ultimately heading towards their disbandment.
This has been a pattern in the once-robust region. The Chinese Dota 2 competitive scene is currently experiencing a concerning decline, with a lack of new-generation players emerging. Additionally, the state of pubs is in disarray, as many pros and players have turned to queueing on Southeast Asia servers.
Invictus Gaming’s legacy
Few organisations have had the staying power of IG in Dota 2, a testament to their strong foundation in the game and consistent performances over more than a decade.
IG made their Dota 2 debut in 2011, featuring new players who would soon rise to global stardom, including Ning “xiao8” Zhang and Fei Chi “Ferrari 430” Luo. In 2012, IG made history as the second team to win The International (TI), Dota 2’s annual world championship tournament, and was the first from China to do so.
Their success didn’t stop there. IG continued to perform at a high level, adapting to the shifting Dota 2 landscape through various roster changes. Some of IG’s most notable achievements aside from raising the Aegis of Champions in 2012 include winning the ONE Esports Singapore Major and securing 4th place at TI 2021.
