Valve Corporation has finally lifted the veil of secrecy surrounding its new multiplayer game, “Deadlock,” by officially acknowledging its existence and launching a store page. The game, which has been quietly amassing a player base throughout August 2024, was previously available only through invites. This limited-access approach allowed the game to reach over 44,000 concurrent players earlier this week, despite Valve’s initial request for playtesters to keep the game under wraps.
“Deadlock” is described as a 6v6 third-person hero shooter with a unique twist reminiscent of MOBA games. The gameplay takes place across four lanes, featuring aggressively respawning waves of troopers. Valve has noted that the game is still in “early development,” cautioning that much of the art and gameplay is still experimental.
Throughout August, the game gained attention as existing playtesters invited their friends to join, leading to a steady increase in player numbers. By mid-August, “Deadlock” had already surpassed 18,000 concurrent players, and interest continued to grow as more players shared their experiences, despite the splash screen warning at the start of the game requesting that “players not share anything about the game with anyone.”
However, this request was not legally binding, and many players ignored it. As a result, gameplay videos began appearing on YouTube, and at least one media outlet, The Verge, published a write-up about the game. These leaks gave the broader gaming community a glimpse into what “Deadlock” offers, fueling speculation and anticipation.
Now that Valve has officially acknowledged “Deadlock,” it seems likely that the company will begin actively discussing the game’s features and development process with the public. This could also lead to an influx of new players, particularly as content creators and critics start to weigh in on the game.
For now, “Deadlock” remains in an invite-only phase, but with its existence finally out in the open, it’s only a matter of time before more players can dive into this intriguing new title. Among the many questions players hope to have answered is the story behind the game’s quirky characters, including a dragon-person in a newsboy cap who has already become a favorite among the community.
With Valve’s track record of delivering groundbreaking games, “Deadlock” is poised to become a major player in the multiplayer gaming scene, even as it continues to evolve in its early development stages.
