More details of Valve’s next game have hit the internet as leakers, testers, and influencers share information about Deadlock, a new hero shooter.
Valve content creator Gabe Follower revealed on Twitter/X, Deadlock will be a six-versus-six hero-based shooter, with matches taking place on large maps with multiple lanes. A cross between the MOBA genre and hero shooters like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and VALORANT, the game will feature characters with abilities and usable items.
With four lanes, a 3D, third-person shooter perspective, and tower defense mechanics, the game is already drawing comparisons to games like SMITE and now-defunct MOBA shooter Super Monday Night Combat. But besides the basics what do we know about Deadlock, and when can we expect to play it?
Deadlock is the working title of the new hero shooter from Valve. The game previously went under the titles Neon Prime and Citadel, so even the name Deadlock could change in the future. The name change seemingly came from the change in aesthetic, with Deadlock reportedly switching from a more sci-fi aesthetic to a fantasy, steampunk-inspired setting.
The graphical style is similar to Dota 2 and Team Fortress, with stylized graphics that focus on making characters readable and easily identifiable.
Deadlock will feature magic users, steampunk robots, demons, gunslingers, archers, and swashbucklers, fighting across the streets of a European-style city center. It’s unknown if there will be other maps.
Characters will collect Souls to buy items. These items will be grenades, buffs, and other enhancements for characters.
Over a dozen heroes were seen in leaked screenshots, but only one, an archer known as Grey Talon, was fully revealed. According to the screenshot, this character is “A cunning predator” who “uses a combination of deadly accuracy, traps, and clever positioning to bring down the toughest opponents.”
The aim of the game appears to be to destroy enemy towers to progress the game, and eventually destroy the enemy base. It’s unknown if there will be other game modes, but a sandbox mode was seen below the character select.
Heroes will also have three core abilities, and an ultimate – just like Dota 2 or League of Legends.
Players will be able to traverse the city map at high speed using “transit lines,” overhead wires that will zip players to the front of their lanes.
Shortly after the leaks, rumours that a number of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, and even Overwatch players had been given access to the game as alpha testers started to circulate. These players were speculated to be the source of the leaks.
Additionally, on May 19, Gabe Follower, an account that confirmed details of the upcoming shooter posted a Tweet reading the following: “I have to stop talking about Deadlock from now on. Completely. Please don’t contact me or ask any questions.”
The reason behind this was speculated to either be related to signing an NDA, or being spammed with so many questions they just wanted it to stop.
Unfortunately, there’s currently no information on a release date for Deadlock. The game is reportedly in very early Alpha development and isn’t expected to release this calendar year. Additionally, there’s also the chance the game won’t ever see the light of day. Valve has been known to shelve titles mid-development.
However, Valve also does have a lot of experience with this style of game. Team Fortress 2 is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shooters ever made, still retaining thousands of players today.
But with the game in alpha, and the latest details and screenshots reportedly coming from players actively testing the game, it’s a good sign that we could expect to see Deadlock on our screens in the future – especially given the hype around these limited leaks. It is then probable that Deadlock betting markets will soon follow.
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