Valve Announces Deadlock, a Multiplayer Game in Early Development
Valve has officially announced Deadlock, its new multiplayer game, now listed on Steam with minimal details. According to Valve, Deadlock is still in early development, featuring experimental gameplay and temporary art. Currently, access is limited to players through invite-only playtesting, and a small teaser image is all that’s available to the public.
Despite the quiet announcement, Deadlock has been gaining traction for months. Playtest details started to leak as early as May, with thousands of players joining through friend invites. By August, tens of thousands were already engaged with the game. The Verge and other sources have published hands-on previews, and popular streamers, including Shroud, are now playing the game live, further raising excitement.
Described as a team-based, third-person shooter with lane-based mechanics inspired by DOTA 2, Deadlock combines hero-based action with features like upgrades and fighting creeps, differentiating itself from games like Overwatch or Team Fortress 2. Although it’s unclear if the game will reach the level of popularity of Valve’s Counter-Strike or Dota 2, its early success is promising, with over 64,000 concurrent players recorded this weekend.
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As Deadlock continues to grow, Valve is relying on word-of-mouth and friend invites to spread the news, with no major media campaigns or announcements planned yet.