<a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/570/"><img title="Yearn to be free!" alt="" src="http://media.steampowered.com/apps/dota2/images/blogfiles/inline_dragon_knight.jpg" width="100%" /></a>

For the past several months, access to Dota 2 has been granted through a queue system that gated entry into the community. We’ve used this system to gradually increase the size of our playerbase, as we ramped up our infrastructure and improved the experience for new players. As we have recently completed a set of server management upgrades as well as released a huge number of enhancements to the new user experience, we’re going to remove all restrictions to playing Dota 2.

Signups are no longer required to access the game, and we encourage everyone to join the 6.5 million active monthly users currently playing Dota 2. If you have a friend who hasn't tried Dota 2 yet, be sure to take advantage of the new recruitment feature to get additional bonuses for both you and your friend.

To download and start playing Dota 2, you can head to the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/570/">Dota 2 Steam page</a> and click the green ‘PLAY GAME’ button. We hope you’ll join the Dota 2 community.

For the past several months, access to Dota 2 has been granted through a queue system that gated entry into the community. We’ve used this system to gradually increase the size of our playerbase, as we ramped up our infrastructure and improved the experience for new players. As we have recently completed a set of server management upgrades as well as released a huge number of enhancements to the new user experience, we’re going to remove all restrictions to playing Dota 2.

Signups are no longer required to access the game, and we encourage everyone to join the 6.5 million active monthly users currently playing Dota 2. If you have a friend who hasn't tried Dota 2 yet, be sure to take advantage of the new recruitment feature to get additional bonuses for both you and your friend.

To download and start playing Dota 2, you can head to the Dota 2 Steam page and click the green ‘PLAY GAME’ button. We hope you’ll join the Dota 2 community.

- Added a recruitment option to the popup menu when right-clicking players.
- Fixed bug where the recruitment icon would show up for recruitment offers you had not accepted.
- Fixed bug where the tutorial gift gem would create ethereal sockets instead of normal sockets. Affected items have been fixed.
- Fixed bug where "Demons Imprisoned" would not increment.
- Wraith-Night matches no longer reduce low-priority penalty games remaining.

- Fixed Press The Attack being unable to target siege units
- Fixed Magnetic Grip being able to pull you out of Duel, Blackhole and Chronosphere
- Fixed Rupture affecting couriers
- Fixed not always being silenced properly during Duel (Autocast, Morph, etc)
- Fixed Static Storm silence/mute not affecting sleeping/invulnerable units
- Fixed Moment of Courage Legacy Key
- Fixed Earth Spirit Legacy Keys

WRAITH-NIGHT
- Fixed a game-restart exploit.
- Fixed some abilities incorrectly considering illusions.
- Arcane Boots II can no longer be disassembled
- Fixed a bug with some items permanently granting their buffs even when unequipped.
- Added message about abandonments leading to low-priority punishments for wraith-night matches.

COACH FIXES
- Fixed Coaches seeing enemy projectiles for some spells (i.e. Ancient Apparition's ultimate)
- Fixed Coaches being able to see enemy team's glyph cooldown.
- Fixed Coaches being able to see enemy item cooldowns.
- Fixed Coaches being able to become captains in Captains Mode & Captains Draft.
- Fixed Coaches seeing some ability state information on enemy heroes.

* Fixed a significant bug that was causing regions to run out of available servers
* Fixed a bug with Batrider's vision during Firefly

* Wraith King has risen
* Fixed Recruits sorting in the wrong direction
* Fixed Captain crowns showing on all players when spectating CM games

* Added matchmaking preference to use themed or classic map
* Ranked matchmaking will always use the classic map. (This is to minimize fragmentation of the matchmaking pool)
* Tuned quality thresholds in ranked matchmaking to wait longer and require a higher quality match
* Private lobbies will use classic map if tournament version is selected in lobby settings
* Fixed bug causing full parties of 5 players to wait needlessly when searching for Wraith-Night or Coop Bot matches


Frostivus:
* Rebalanced both Shadow Fragments and Shining Fragments rewards
* Fixed towers sometimes becoming invulnerable
* Fixed CM hero selection being limited after a Frostivus game
* Fixed buy back cost not being reset on new game with increased difficulty
* After defeating Wraith King end panel now correctly shows up and shows fragment rewards and allows voting
* Added conversion of Shining Fragments to Shadow Fragments

<a href="http://www.dota2.com/wraithnight/"><img title="He is the greatest warrior that has ever lived. On his first game of Dota he played Chen and won the game in 3 minutes." alt="" src="http://media.steampowered.com/apps/dota2/images/blogfiles/inline_wraithnight.jpg" width="576" height="337" /></a>

Your benevolent King has declared this coming December 12th an official holiday with the introduction of the Wraith-Night. A great and prosperous time is guaranteed for the entire family with festivities like the Harvesting of Souls. The little ones will especially enjoy playing in the snow while our Great Leader watches over from his Altar.

We love our King and are happy to provide souls for his Second Coronation. Remember, kill as many enemies to hurry the return of the Great One.

Your benevolent King has declared this coming December 12th an official holiday with the introduction of the Wraith-Night. A great and prosperous time is guaranteed for the entire family with festivities like the Harvesting of Souls. The little ones will especially enjoy playing in the snow while our Great Leader watches over from his Altar.

We love our King and are happy to provide souls for his Second Coronation. Remember, kill as many enemies to hurry the return of the Great One.

GAMEPLAY

- Skeleton King: Removed for pressing ceremonial reasons

<a href="http://www.dota2.com/frostivus2013/"><img src="http://media.steampowered.com/apps/dota2/images/blogfiles/inline_frostivus2013.jpg" width="100%"></a>

Events beyond our control caused last year's wintry celebration to be cancelled, but this year we’re not letting anything stop us. Check in on our official Frostivus page as the Wreath-Night proceedings get underway...

Events beyond our control caused last year's wintry celebration to be cancelled, but this year we’re not letting anything stop us. Check in on our official Frostivus page as the Wreath-Night proceedings get underway...