Tutorial Loading Screen

First Download

GCFScape and VTFEdit

VPK Override

We'll be replacing files in Dota's file structure, so first we'll need to go into Dota 2's launch options and enter -override_vpk so the game knows where to look. A bit of warning: As of the creation of this guide, -override_vpk messes with the map in Wraith Night for some unknown reason. Until Valve can fix this, you will unfortunately have to choose between being able to use mods and being able to see the left side of the map in Wraith Night.

First things first, find or create your own image. In this example, I will be using the Dire wallpaper created by Perfect World when they announced that they would be publishing Dota 2 in China. Any image will work, but I recommend that the picture's resolution is at least what you plan on running Dota 2 at. I run my game at 1600x900 resolution, so using this picture will not produce any unwanted stretching or pixelation.

First things first, open the image up in your choice of image editor. Then, after making any edits of your choosing, re-size it so it fits into 2048x1024 resolution.

Then, save it as a .TGA file somewhere where you'll be sure to find it later.

If it asks you what resolution you'd like to save it at, just choose the default or 24 bits/pixel with no compression.

After you've saved it, open up VTFEdit, and under File, choose Import. You can also press Ctrl+I (as in Imogen) to bring up the same menu. There, choose the .TGA file you just created.

Then, you may be faced with a daunting window asking you for things you don't understand. If you don't know what any of it means, just copy the settings I used:

Putting it in-game

Now, we'll need to find where the file we're going to replace is. As of the time of the last edit to this guide, Dota 2 keeps its default loading screen at \Steam\steamapps\common\dota 2 beta\dota\materials\console (If it's not already there, create one). If they ever decide to move it, simply use GCFScape to open up Dota 2's pak01_dir.vpk file, and search for it there.

You may notice that there are many different loading screens here, and none of them are explicitly labeled as being the default. As different events roll by, Valve will change the file names without actually changing what the loading screen looks like, so there will unfortunately be some guess-work involved in wherae to save it and name it. As of the last edit of this guide the current loading screen name is dashboard_loading_embers.vtf . Rename your .vtf file to that, and place it in the \Steam\steamapps\common\dota 2 beta\dota\materials\console folder. Note that if you have you file browser set to not show what file type it is, it will just be "dashboard_loading_embers".

And finally, as always, load up your copy of Dota 2 as a test to see if your edits have worked.