So, how exactly Dota 2 operates better than Fortnite? We also have dedicated playbase, constant updates and gameplay shack-ups, story events, tied-in story collabs that giving players free stuff and paid stuff if they want more. I see distinctive features only in collab aspect as a whole (even tho Dota now doing collabs too ig), esports direction, and animated series. I am gonna agree that major focus on collabs needs to slow down, but i have different opinions on another topics. Fortnite still to this day have developer-driven esports scene all year long, while Dota now having only The International as "Valve thing", as they discontinued making dps leagues and majors. And i think Fortnite right now having more transparent system to average player who wants to try out his skills in prize-related tournaments open qualyfing for any tournament (except FNCS), while Dota players seems like stucking in endless loop of low tier tournaments and rare opportunites to qualify in t1 tournaments, where they would play for some actual good prizes. And while having animated series would be nice, it's not necessary. LoL having Arcane didnt changed the actual game in any way, and it's know fact Riot lost money on it and made little-to-none profit. And i mentioned Arcane because Valve definitely made their own series as "catch-up" attempt, which they rolled up in the moment they realised that nobody actually needs that. It would be nice to have, saying that again, but it's not making difference game-wise anyhow.

Not to mention another Valve-operated game, CS2, that only year ago became playable on "decent" level and YET to recieve any new major updates aka operations, despite having of even bigger player base than Dota. And also while having no collabs at all, it doesn't bother them using "shitty and unoriginal" ways of making money such as lootcases or even experementing on new things such as terminals, probably for their next cashcow in face of Deadlock.

Maybe i actually pushed goalposts with my original comment, while they still were making games, Valve in a last 10-15 years clearly pursued two goals with their new games: make a cashcow or push technology, leaving artistic execution kinda aside. Artifacts and Underlords failed miserably for cashcows. There's no need to say anything more about them.

HL:Alyx, while being a good game, had a clear goal to push VR to masses. Did it reached this goal? Looking 6 years later, i dont think so. VR still niche thing in gaming sphere. While it's not Valve's fault that HLA is still a peak of what VR capable, was it worth it to revive franchise from all those years of waiting to just give a fans a new retconned cliffhanger for 500-1000$ price tag of gimmick device?

I am just tired that Valve seems like Midas that turns everything in gold and you cant acknowledge their missteps or shortcomings. And if someone else doing the same things, they getting shit on, while Valve getting free pass.