North Carolina State University

Better Frame Rates or Better Visuals? An Early Report of Esports Player Practice in Dota 2

This investigation examines the visuo-temporal tradeoffs made by esports athletes in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Dota 2.

• Dota 2 players demonstrate a clear preference for temporal performance over visual fidelity, consistently prioritizing higher frame rates and lower input lag to gain a competitive edge.
• Over 80% of surveyed players disable VSYNC, sacrificing visual screen tearing to minimize latency and maximize frame rate.
• Players prioritize performance by reducing resource-heavy settings like shadows and textures, while intentionally avoiding reductions to screen resolution.