Australia to receive local Dota 2 servers next year

Valve's multiplayer online battle arena game Dota 2 will be expanding its servers to Australia by January 2013. A developer post on the game's official forums reveals that the data center equipment has arrived in Sydney, and will take a few weeks to set up.

Currently in beta, Dota 2 is scheduled for PC and Mac release next year. The game combines action and real-time strategy elements in multiplayer matches that pit teams of player-controlled heroes against one another.

Dota 2 will include integrated voice chat and computer-controlled characters that will take over for players who disconnect during play sessions, as well as a coaching system, where veteran players will have the chance to tutor newcomers.