Image Source:Valve
Valve has been quietly testing a new game called Deadlock, and while they’ve kept it under wraps for some time, the game is now officially listed on Steam. Though Valve has been secretive about the game, some of the restrictions around it have recently been relaxed, allowing for more public discussion and even some streaming by those who have been playing it in the invite-only alpha.
Despite being listed on Steam, details about Deadlock are still sparse. The game’s launch date remains “to be announced,” and access to the game is still limited to those who have received an invitation from Valve’s playtesters. The Steam page for Deadlock doesn’t offer much in terms of visuals either—there are no screenshots available, and the 22-second teaser trailer included doesn’t reveal much about the game, seemingly showing only the startup menu of the current build.
The secrecy surrounding Deadlock hasn’t stopped it from attracting attention. During its “unannounced-but-everyone-knows-it-exists” phase, Deadlock saw peak player counts around 18,000, largely due to players in the private alpha inviting their friends to join in. The buzz around the game grew even more when an early development build was leaked in May. Although Valve confirmed the leak, they didn’t reveal the game’s name at that time. It wasn’t until June that Valve officially filed a trademark application for the name “Deadlock” as a video game title.
So, what exactly is Deadlock? Early leaks describe it as a hero-shooter with elements of tower defense and features borrowed from Valve’s popular MOBA, Dota 2. The game is reportedly a 6v6 hero shooter set on a large map with four lanes connecting the bases on each side, similar to the setup in Dota 2. Players control heroes with unique abilities and weapons, using them to support their NPC armies in a bid to break through the other team’s defenses and ultimately take down the opposing team’s boss NPC.
The game’s visual style is said to be a mix of high fantasy and steampunk, featuring characters like magicians, strange creatures, and robots. However, those who have managed to get into the closed alpha shouldn’t expect the final look just yet. The current build reportedly uses a lot of placeholder assets, with some testers noting the use of Left 4 Dead assets as temporary stand-ins for the game’s actual art.
As the game’s development continues, Valve has eased up on the rules for those involved in the alpha, allowing for public conversation about Deadlock, including streaming, community websites, and discussions. While it may seem like everything about Deadlock is now out in the open, the reality is that a full launch, or even an early access release, still seems to be some time away.
For now, the gaming community will have to wait and see what Valve has in store with Deadlock, but with the game now officially on Steam and more information slowly trickling out, it’s clear that something big is on the horizon.