Valve is clearly shifting into a higher gear ahead of its next release. The largest update in Deadlock’s history has gone live, effectively reviving its beta phase. The hybrid that blends MOBA mechanics with hero shooter design has once again found itself in the spotlight.

Deadlock entered early access more than a year and a half ago. Since then, Valve has deliberately kept a low profile, avoiding unnecessary noise around the project. The strategy was to work without distractions, prepare fresh content, and finalize development ahead of launch. That moment will once again place attention on a company whose last major release was the outstanding Half-Life: Alyx back in 2020. Now, however, the studio has taken a decisive step forward toward the release of its MOBA and hero shooter hybrid.

Deadlock shows signs of life again

Late on January 23, Valve deployed one of the most substantial updates Deadlock has received to date. The patch introduces interface revisions, gameplay refinements, configuration tweaks, and all the expected adjustments typical of a title still in active development. More importantly, it delivers a significant wave of new content. Six additional heroes will be unlocked gradually over the next three weeks, and a new mode described as “fast-paced” is now available to the entire player base.

These new heroes will unlock every Monday and Thursday, following an order chosen directly by players through the hideout system, exactly as seen in previous phases. The new mode, called Street Brawl, draws certain comparisons to Counter-Strike. It pits two teams of four players against each other in a best-of-five format, with no farming mechanics and a predefined set of randomized items. The intent is clearly to offer shorter, more relaxed matches, similar to how League of Legends approaches accessibility with ARAM. MOBAs are often associated with intense competition, but they do not always need to be relentlessly serious.

The impact of the update was immediate. Despite remaining invitation-only, Deadlock saw its player count jump by 123% within hours, reaching 67,668 concurrent users. That figure is expected to rise further over the weekend and could remain elevated as two new heroes are scheduled for release each week. While the game may be attempting to stay under the radar, fans appear unwilling to grant it that luxury and have embraced Valve’s latest project with enthusiasm.

Source: 3djuegos