Dota 2 will be free to play with an in-game store

Dota 2 will be a completely free to play game, Valve confirmed today.  The highly anticipated MOBA game, developed by IceFrog, will have an in-game store, but it will be for cosmetic purposes only.

"Dota 2 will not be a pay-to-win game," Valve assured players. "All the items in the store are cosmetic and don't affect gameplay."

With that being said, all of the heroes will be free of charge to players.

"We believe restricting player access to heroes could be destructive to game design, so it’s something we plan to avoid," Valve detailed in a blog post today.

Instead of charging players to play characters, the in-game store will allow players to purchase cosmetic items to make your favorite Hero stand out from the crowd.  With a little less than 200 items available at launch, the Dota store will provide a good amount of customizable options.  Valve will continue to expand the store with new equipment, couriers, tools, bundles, etc. and anything you buy today will stay with you through Dota 2.

Players will be able to directly contribute to Dota 2 through the Steam Workshop which allows you to upload content and vote and comment on it.  The development team will then take those uploads and release them as official parts of the game with the original creator getting a slice of the sales from the in-game store.

"If you’re a Dota 2 fan with some artistic skills, here’s your chance to get in on the ground floor of what’s sure to be a vibrant community for years to come, and be able to contribute directly to the game you’re already playing non-stop."

For more details regarding Dota 2 and the in-game store check out the provided FAQ.