'James Is An Ass'_ Gabe Newell Explains Why Valve Fired Dota 2 Commentator [Update]
By Dr. Eleanor Vance | Published on January 01, 0001
This week’s $3 million DOTA 2 Shanghai major has been a bit of a disaster. Streams dropping, cameras getting stuck, awkward or non-existent commentary, dead air—it’s been a comedy of errors. On the back of it all, Valve let go of one commentator, James Harding, to a storm of backlash
Harding has a reputation for being pretty irreverent on air, making him something of a divisive figure. Some fans love him for the way he gives people shit, others think he goes too far. He was a DOTA 2 eSports mainstay up until 2015, but he didn’t appear at The International 2015 or the Frankfurt Major.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"e3616d04-4972-4839-a63a-c6975e2e9731","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.kotaku.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"1761615090","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"culture","SECTION":"","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"culture","TAGS":"","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); Shanghai was his comeback… until it wasn’t. He was let go by Valve after a day and a half of the tournament, which has seen some excellent play from teams involved amidst a backdrop of production woes. Oddly, there wasn’t anything public that people could point to as an “Oh shit” moment 
that directly led to Harding’s unceremonious canning.
After a day of speculation and outcry, Gabe Newell personally took to Reddit to explain Valve’s point of view. He was, um, perhaps a little peeved: Two things: 1) James. We’ve had issues with James at previous events. Some Valve people lobbied to bring him back for Shanghai, feeling that he deserved another chance. That was a mistake. James is an ass, and we won’t be working with him again. 2) As long as we’re firing people, we are h25 com สล็อต also firing the production company that we’ve been working with on the Shanghai Major. They will be replaced, and we hope to get this turned around before the main event. Damn. That hammer dropped hard It’s worth noting that Harding has stated that he’s preparing a statement (oh, English) about his side of the story, so we’ll see what he has to say. Regardless, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be hosting another DOTA 2 major again any time soon.
Update 8:20 PM: Harding posted a brief reply to Newell’s Reddit thread: “This is why my statement is taking sometime. It seems more personal than professional. So I will respond. Just for the record gabe, I don’t think you are an ass. But I don’t think you are right about me (well maybe you are a bit of an ass for calling me an ass, but let’s find out what others think shall we?). Brb.” Update 2/27/16 4:15 PM: Harding h25 com เข้าสู่ระบบ issued a lengthy statement about his side of the story. In it, he admitted 
that his style of commentating can be crass, but he also posted a chat transcript in which DOTA 2 lead IceFrog told him to “just be yourself” during the event. So… mixed messages. “So, if I’m wrong Gabe, h25 com สล็อต and you just fired me because I’m not your cup of tea as a host. That sucks, you fucked up. And now I seem to be paying for it kind of. I dunno. It’s a weird situation to process.” You’re reading Steamed, Kotaku’s page dedicated to all things in and around Valve’s wildly popular PC gaming service. Games, culture, community creations, criticism, guides, videos—everything. If you’ve found anything cool/awful on Steam, send us an email to let us know.
To contact the author of this post, write to [email protected] or find him on Twitter @vahn16
Reader Comments
I love the overall aesthetic of the platform. The animations, visual effects, and sound design make the gaming experience more dynamic and immersive. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back. The promotions and bonuses offered are very generous. I especially love the daily free spins and deposit bonuses. They make playing even more enjoyable and increase my chances of winning big. The platform keeps me engaged for hours every day.
The payout process is generally smooth and reliable, though occasionally it takes longer than expected. Overall, I feel confident that my winnings are safe and will be credited properly. The variety of games is excellent, including table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, in addition to slots. This keeps the platform interesting and allows me to switch games depending on my mood. Sometimes I wish there were more ways to earn rewards through loyalty programs or frequent player bonuses. Adding seasonal events or special challenges could enhance the excitement even further.
I appreciate the themed slot games, especially those based on movies and TV shows. They make the gaming experience more engaging and immersive. The combination of storyline, visuals, and bonus features makes each game feel unique. The variety of games is excellent, including table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, in addition to slots. This keeps the platform interesting and allows me to switch games depending on my mood.