Valve: DOTA 2 coming "soon" to Steam
Gamescom reveal launch tie-in?
Valve's latest update for digital distribution service Steam notes that "soon, DOTA 2 will be delivered using it".
How soon? Gamescom, which runs next month, soon?
Is Valve preparing to unveil the game and launch it at the same time?
Earlier this month evidence surfaced that suggested Portal 2 maker Valve will unveil DOTA 2, the sequel to the Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients, at Gamescom.
On the official gamescom website Valve is listed as an exhibitor set to show a product under the "strategy" category of video games, suggesting DOTA 2, a real-time strategy game due out this year, will turn up.
Last year DOTA creator Abdul Ismail (better known as IceFrog) assured the Defence of the Ancients community that Valve's new sequel won't override and replace the original - at least not straight away.
DOTA was the basis for Gas Powered Games' flawed-but-enjoyable Demigod and Riot Games' free and accomplished online game League of Legends.
Even Blizzard trumpeted a free DOTA mod for StarCraft II at BlizzCon 2010, although it is yet to release.
Will DOTA 2 be free-to-play, as Valve's online shooter Team Fortress 2 now is?
Gamescom runs from 17th to 21st August.
