As with most game updates, the latest Deadlock update is groundbreaking. It features tonnes of UI changes, a new gamemode, six new characters, and new-look patrons for the two sides.

Although this means the game is still pushing ever closer to either its full release or at least a true open beta, it also shows there’s still some way to go before Valve is happy to call this a finished product. 

Valve COOKED with the New Patrons! 🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/zwvUyw2q7a

— Dead Air (@DeadlockAir) January 22, 2026

So Close Yet so Far

Compared to when people first got access to the game, Deadlock is unrecognizable. The art style has completely shifted, a lane was removed from the game, and a number of characters have been added.

The latest update continues this trend, with changes to the functionality of the soul urn giving shadow nerfs or buffs to some characters, and the addition of passageways only accessible to small characters, making movement across the map more dynamic than ever before.

Even UI changes, or the revamped spawn locations and new patrons show that the game continues to push on, but there’s also a problem with that – releasing a game people are actually happy with.

As with any update to any game, the meta can shift with each change. Removing a lane fundamentally changed the way Deadlock was played, and the same can be said for the value of small characters and the buff they will receive as a result of these new passageways. Valve aren’t going to want to release Deadlock in an unbalanced state, so even if the game was ready to go, there would still need to be some time for this to be tested within the active playerbase before it could be pushed. 

There are now secret passages exclusively for small characters (Ava, Rem) 👀 pic.twitter.com/aol8IUoPo9

— Deadlock Intel (@IntelDeadlock) January 22, 2026

The same is true for the new characters. Six new characters – some with notably incomplete animations and designs – will be released over the next few weeks, each shifting the meta in their own way. 

All of this raises a couple of questions: how much is yet to be added? And how much further will that push back the eventual release of the game?

Full Deadlock Old Gods, New Blood Patch Notes

Street Brawl

• New fast-paced game mode
• 4v4 format
• Best-of-five match structure
• Short rounds designed to last a few minutes

Gameplay Changes

• Streamlined shopping
• Random item selection each round
• Players add up to three items per round
• Equalised round starts
• All players begin with the same resources
• No farming
• Enhanced and Legendary items may appear

Patrons

• New bosses, bases, troopers, and defensive abilities
• Added The Hidden King
• Added The Archmother

Heroes

• Six new heroes joining the roster
• Heroes release gradually
• Two heroes per week
• Mondays and Thursdays at 2PM PST
• Starting January 26
• Release order determined by player voting
• Heroes:
  • Silver – Feral, transformation-style character.
  • Rem – Small, helpful support.
  • Graves – Necromancer, aerial denial.
  • Celeste – Disruptive performer.
  • Venator – Tactical devout/arms expert.
  • Apollo – Finesse, high mobility.

Hero Voting & Unlocks

• Votes earned by playing matches
• First win of the day grants 4 additional votes
• Votes cast via the Hideout ballot box

Hero Priority Tokens

• Earned by playing after the first hero release
• Used to more reliably select newly released heroes
• Earn rate increases as more new heroes are added

In-Game Sprays

• New spray system added
• Used to campaign for upcoming hero releases during matches

Postgame Updates

• New MVP scoring system
• New postgame summary screen

UI & HUD Improvements

• Reactive hero portraits
• Kill streak indicators
• Chat visual improvements
• Updated ally vs. enemy chat styles
• Animated custom channel bars for channeled abilities

Combat Feedback

• New damage impact indicator
• New damage numbers

Score & Objectives

• Updated scoreboard
• Objective health bars
• Mid Boss spawn timer shown on the minimap

Quality-of-Life

• Random Hero button
• Rejuvenation duration timer
• Improved visibility outlines

Camera & Navigation

• New Camera Hole Punch system
• Neutral jungle camps glow through walls when nearby

Settings Rework

• Settings search added
• Custom reticle editor with live preview
• Adjustable FOV slider

Map Updates

• Ongoing map updates

New Items

• Ballistic Enchantment
  •  Increases ability range
  •  Grants increased weapon damage per target hit
• Recharging Rush
  • Weapon damage restores charges for charged abilities

Additional Changes

• Improved trooper AI
• New music added
• New Patron voice lines
• Build authoring improvements
• Chat settings rework
• Improved anti-cheat
• Improved replay compatibility across updates
• Network prediction improvements
• Improved trooper zipline movement
• New item sounds
• Minor UI updates to ability tooltips
• Rendering performance improvements
• Improved light map compression
• Improved hit and death feedback
• Improved healing-related audio
• Improved hero zipline attachment
• Improved player sound reverb
• Items now display imbued abilities in tooltips
• Ultimate ability VO now uses unique processing
• Improved bullet whiz-by detection
• Additional hero voice lines
• Announcer response refinements
• Chat Wheel supports nested segments
• Improved damage flashes
• New tunnel routes for small heroes
• Various miscellaneous fixes