Watch the Dota 2 Inteational up close and personal in VR - CNET

Last year, the fourth Inteational reached a prize pool of $18 million, the largest in e-sports history at the time. In 2016, the touament for the battle arena game Dota 2 is looking to set another precedent, offering viewers around the world the option to tune in via VR, developer Valve announced in a blog post.

You'll be able to watch the world's best Dota 2 players on the Dota VR Hub, using compatible headsets to watch live matches and replays in VR. You'll have the option of watching as if you were in the crowd at the event, or, better yet, you can even watch from within the game itself.

"Put on a headset and join your friends and other Dota fans to watch live matches or replays in Dota VR Theater, where you can stand surrounded by heroes and watch the action unfold on an enormous screen. Immerse yourself further by jumping through the minimap into the game itself. Watch from a bird's-eye view or plant your feet on the ground to watch the battles rage around you at full scale," read the announcement.

It's still an in-progress project for Valve, who have asked fans to try it out before the touament and provide feedback. Spectator VR is a smart move for the company behind the Steam platform, who have been working closely with HTC on the Vive headset.

The Inteational 2016 will run from August 8 to August 13.