Valve Alters Deadlock Development Amid Industry Decline

Deadlock's player count has plummeted, with peak online numbers now below 20,000. In response, Valve has announced a revised development approach.

Moving forward, major Deadlock updates will no longer adhere to a fixed release schedule. This change, according to a developer, will allow for more thorough development and ultimately lead to more substantial updates. The team emphasizes that hotfixes will continue to be deployed as needed.

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Previously, Deadlock received bi-weekly updates. While this cadence proved useful, the developers felt it didn't allow sufficient time for implemented changes to fully stabilize and function optimally. This prompted the shift in strategy.

Deadlock's peak player count once surpassed 170,000 on Steam, but by early 2025, this had dwindled to 18,000-20,000.

Does this signal trouble for the game? Not necessarily. The MOBA-shooter remains in early development, lacking a release date. A release in 2025 or beyond is quite possible, especially considering Valve's apparent internal approval for a new Half-Life title.

Valve's focus is on quality, prioritizing a polished product. The company believes a superior game will naturally attract players and revenue. The adjusted update schedule primarily benefits the developers, streamlining the development process. This strategy mirrors the evolution of Dota 2's update cycle, demonstrating a precedent for this approach. Therefore, there's no immediate cause for alarm.