Camera crew leaks Dota 2 team's strategy at tournament with $10M prize pool

Chinese media group Gamefy recently apologized to the Dota 2 community after its camera crew entered Team DK's off-limits room while it was strategizing before a match and "accidentally" broadcast the team's game strategy to YouTube.

Gamefy said in a statement published to Chinese social networking site Weibo (translated on Reddit) that during The International — Valve's official Dota 2 tournament, which has a prize pool of more than $10 million — its camera crew "entered and began filming the player's rooms without the permission of Valve and Team DK." The footage that was uploaded to YouTube contained the team's strategy for their upcoming match against Evil Geniuses.

While Team DK ended up beating Evil Geniuses in the tournament, Dota 2 fan Yang Liu wrote in an open letter to Valve that the team has now been compromised because the video exposed Team DK's strategy.

"Gamefy's film personnel entered and began filming the player's rooms without the permission of Valve and Team DK, and accidentally [uploaded] the sensitive information. We sincerely apologize for our actions," Gamefy wrote in its apology. "We acknowledge the problems and frustration that were caused to Team DK by the video, and we are fully aware of the hurt that was caused to Dota 2 fans.

"According to Valve Corperation's rules and regulations, the personnel responsible cannot continue to participate in TI4 news reporting; we will also strictly adhere to the rules of the organizing committee. Without further permission from Valve, we will not enter player's rooms to conduct any kind film work.

"Lastly, we would hope for forgiveness and understanding from all of Team DK, all Dota 2 fans and lovers, and other TI 4 players; and let us put our passion and enthusiasm into the reporting of the next phase of the tournament. We hereby apologize."

We have reached out to Valve for comment.

The main tournament for The International runs from July 18-21. Bracket tournaments are currently being held in the lead up to the main event to determine team seeding. Check out Polygon's daily coverage of the tournament.