Steam Workshop

The Steam Workshop is a way for players to submit user-generated content to Dota 2. There are two main type of user-generated content for Dota 2: cosmetic items and custom game modes.

Custom Game Modes
Custom game modes are made using the Dota 2 Workshop Tools. Everyone can publish those in the Steam Workshop, and everyone can play them for free after downloading the tools from the custom games tab in Dota 2 and after subscribing the desidered custom game modes. Custom games support is still in alpha phase: there isn't a public search for custom games and you can only play those in private lobbies, Valve is still working to improve the Workshop Tools and some bugs can occur at the moment. Users can rate custom game modes as any Workshop submission.

Cosmetic Items
Cosmetic items are sold for real money in the Steam Store, but before these objects must be submitted to the Dota 2 Workshop on Steam. Only submissions approved by Valve are added to the store. Creators of approved contents receive a portion of their sales proceeds. Users can rate submissions, although a higher rating does not guarantee its approval.

Eligible submissions
Several forms of cosmetic items are accepted for Dota 2:
 * Equipment
 * Custom Couriers
 * Custom Wards
 * Announcers
 * HUD Skins
 * Taunts
 * Ability models
 * Ability effects
 * Ability icons
 * Emoticons
 * Multikill Banner
 * Weather Effects
 * Music
 * Loading Screens
 * Cursors

Guidelines
Cosmetic items should "fit" the hero's theme, color scheme, and silhouette.