Valve has finally broken its silence on Deadlock, its eagerly awaited MOBA shooter, which has been the talk of the gaming community. The game now boasts an official Steam store page, and Valve has shared exciting updates about its closed beta, gameplay mechanics, and the unique approach they're taking with this title.
Valve Officially Announces Deadlock's Public Availability
Valve has lifted the curtain on Deadlock, confirming its existence and launching its official Steam page. The closed beta for Deadlock reached a new peak of 89,203 concurrent players over the weekend, significantly surpassing the previous high of 44,512 on August 18.
Previously, Deadlock was a subject of leaks and speculation due to Valve's strict confidentiality. However, the company has now relaxed these restrictions, allowing public discussions, streaming, and community engagement. Despite this openness, Deadlock remains an invite-only game in early development, featuring temporary art and experimental features.
Deadlock Promising To Be A MOBA Shooter
According to The Verge, Deadlock combines elements of MOBA and shooter genres, offering 6-on-6 combat similar to Overwatch. Teams compete to push back opponents while managing NPC grunts across multiple lanes, creating a dynamic battlefield where both heroes and NPC allies are crucial.
Matches in Deadlock are fast-paced and intense, requiring players to balance leading their Troopers and engaging in direct combat. The game features frequent Trooper respawns, wave-based battles, and strategic use of abilities and upgrades. With a mix of melee and ranged combat, and movement options like sliding, dashing, and zip-lining, Deadlock emphasizes coordination and tactical depth.
The game boasts 20 unique heroes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles, encouraging experimentation and teamwork. Despite its early development stage, Deadlock's potential is clear, and Valve's approach to inviting player feedback and testing adds an intriguing layer to its development strategy.
Valve’s Controversial Approach to Store Standards
Valve's handling of Deadlock's Steam store page has raised eyebrows. According to Valve's own guidelines, a game page should feature at least five screenshots. However, Deadlock's page currently only includes a single teaser video, showing an atmospheric alley and figures with weapons.
This deviation from Valve's standards has sparked criticism, with some arguing that Valve, as a Steamworks Partner, should adhere to the same rules as other developers. Similar issues arose during a March 2024 sale of The Orange Box, where Valve added promotional stickers to its store page, later addressing the issue. 3DGlyptics, the publisher and developer of B.C. Piezophile, has criticized Valve for undermining the consistency and fairness of Steam's platform policies.
Despite the controversy, Valve's dual role as both a game developer and platform owner may exempt it from traditional enforcement. As Deadlock progresses through its development and testing phases, it remains to be seen how Valve will respond to these concerns.
