The "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass was introduced on the game's blog last Mar. 15.
Custom games were introduced last September in the "Dota 2" Reborn update. These custom games can be created using workshop tools to create new modes and new kinds of games which then can be downloaded and played within the "Dota 2" client.
"Dota 2" custom games are created and managed by passionate developers who then contributes the custom games to the online ommunity for free.
The new "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass is a new way of encouraging and compensating a community of custom game developers who are very committed in creating and overseeing their game.
However, only a very few custom game developers will be compensated through the "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass. Those that will be eligible for this are custom game developers who have built high-quality custom games and have established themselves in the community.
If players purchase a "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass for a certain custom game, they don't just directly support the developers but will also acquire extra features for that game.
However, the "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass is entirely optional and all custom games will still be free to download and play.
The "Dota 2" Custom Game Pass is now live and the first game available is Roshpit Champions. The Custom Game Pass only costs $1 for the game and grants the player extra features such as additional stash and character slots, and other perks for the duration of 30 days.
"We want a system that encourages developers to work hard to continue to support their games, and for fans to be able to reward developers if they are happy with the work the developer is doing," Valve posted in its FAQ.
"For custom games to be successful in the long term, they will require ongoing updates from their creators, and a cheaper but limited activation period allows players to continually reassess their choice to support a game if they think it's going in the right direction."
