Valve is always making slight changes to Dota 2, but few expected a new update for quality of life and new cosmetic changes like the Dota 2 Spring Forward Update.
Added late on May 22, the Spring forward update includes Gameplay update 7.39, 16 new item sets, and a host of quality of life changes.
Image Credit: Valve
Dota 2 Spring Forward Update Improves Player Experience
Among a host of changes, the Spring Forward update for Dota 2 has streamlined buying items, communicating with your fellow players, given you greater and more nuanced hotkeys, and improved performance and post-game graphs.
In terms of item buying, you can now track your team’s items (perfect for control freaks and team captains), set items for auto delivery, and mark items for auto buying when you have enough gold. There’s also an improved starting item display, so you’re not locked out from those vital magic wand plus ward starts.
Beyond this, for Dota Plus subscribers, there’s even better item suggestions, and even for non subscribers you have better buyback status control and pregame clarity.
Image Credit: Valve
Pings and Communication are Now Better in Dota 2
Speaking of clarity, the communication system has gotten loads better with more tactical pings.
We’re gonna say it – this is something League of Legends had for a while and we’re glad it’s in Dota 2 finally.
Beyond that though, there’s new item pickup effects, and a minimap route display and text status displays for effects. Now you can actually tell if that hero you hit is stunned!
There’s some voice chat improvements as well, but I’ll be honest – I mute everyone and farm top. These changes don’t affect me.
Image Credit: Valve
Huge UI changes for Dota 2 in the Spring Forward Update
Love hotkeys? Tired of your game being remotely playable by another person? Settings are now even more nuanced, searchable, and have far more options.
Along with new ping settings, you can set up in-game notifications. Tired of hearing about neutral item pickups? Turn them off! Tired off hearing about your teammates at all? Turn that off!
There’s also a huge update to Ability Draft, changing everything. We’ll try and cover that in more detail soon.
Personally, we’re just happy Valve once again dropped another major patch in the middle of a DreamLeague or ESL event. We love passive aggressive Valve to its core, and fully support any decision they make.
And stick with Esports.net as we analyze this patch deeper as we get to grips with it.