Let’s talk about Valve’s latest buzz-worthy game, Deadlock—and nope, not Deadlock from Valorant or Deadlock: Planetary Conquest by Atari!
You’ve probably heard about it from a friend or seen your favorite streamer getting hyped about it, and for good reason. The game is picking up steam (no pun intended) fast.
While Deadlock might feel like a fresh take, it mixes in elements from games you might already know. People say it’s got an Overwatch vibe, and they’re right—but there’s way more to it. Deadlock adds a cool MOBA twist, where you can buy items, build out your hero, and farm resources. But instead of fighting traditional creeps, you’re collecting “souls” from troopers, which gives the game a unique flavor.
Here’s the lowdown: Deadlock is a 6v6 third-person hero shooter set in a steampunk world.
Since it’s still in its alpha phase, it’s got some rough edges. You’ll probably run into bugs or balance issues, but that’s expected at this point. Valve’s already mentioned that a lot of the art and gameplay are “temporary,” so you know things are still evolving.
Gameplay and Mechanics
In Deadlock, you pick from 21 heroes, each with their own unique abilities, and you’re thrown into fast-paced, strategic battles. If you’re into competitive shooters, this game’s definitely got a lot to offer. The maps are designed with four different lanes, all with varying heights, which makes positioning and sneaky ambushes super fun (and stressful!).
But here’s where it gets interesting: Deadlock brings in MOBA elements. You “farm” for money and experience, but instead of slashing creeps, you’ve got to shoot accurately and collect “souls” from troopers. It’s a cool mash-up of FPS mechanics and MOBA-style strategy. If you’re used to both genres, you’ll probably vibe with this combo. But if you’re new, you can play against bots first to get the hang of things before diving into normal matches.
Now, as someone who’s been grinding Valorant for almost three years and dabbled in games like Apex, Overwatch, and a bit of League, I’ve got some mixed feelings about Deadlock. After playing for a week, I’ve had moments where I felt like a god, and then, in the next match, I’d get completely wrecked by a super overpowered enemy team. The MOBA influence can be a bit much at times, especially when it feels like the FPS aspect takes a backseat. Also, the item shop? Overwhelming. The recommended items don’t always seem to do what they’re supposed to, and without a matchmaking rating (MMR), it can feel like you’re constantly up against MOBA veterans who’ve been doing this for years. But hey, it’s early days, and hopefully, this stuff gets ironed out as we head into beta.
If you’re just starting out, I’d suggest trying these heroes—they’re currently some of the strongest, according to Deadlock’s Twitter.
Current Status and Community
Right now, Deadlock is still in an invite-only phase, which gives it that “exclusive club” vibe. Everyone’s eager to get in, and even though access is limited, the game recently peaked at 171,000 players! That’s a pretty solid sign that people are loving it, even in its early stages.
I wasn’t super hyped about Deadlock at first—after years of competitive games, I was kinda burnt out. But when my gaming groups and friends kept sending invites, I finally gave it a go. And guess what? Once I got a full stack with my close friends, the game became way more fun, even with the bugs and challenges we faced.
Content creators like Shroud, Average Jonas, and DrLupo have been streaming Deadlock a lot, which is really boosting its profile. The community is already buzzing with excitement, especially with the potential for an esports scene once they add a proper competitive mode.
Visuals and Art Design
Even in alpha, Deadlock nails the steampunk aesthetic. It’s got that 1900s vibe, and the hero designs are super detailed. You can tell there’s some rich lore behind the characters that’s waiting to be uncovered. I’m really pumped to see how the art evolves, especially once they start rolling out in-game skins. Just thinking about all the cool customizations they could do in a steampunk world is exciting!
The characters and their abilities give off this “supernatural mafia vs. Van Helsing police” energy, which is super intriguing. It adds a nice, unique touch to the game’s vibe. I’m really curious to see how the story plays out and how it meshes with the gameplay and visuals as the game grows.
All in all, Deadlock is shaping up to be a game to watch in the hero shooter genre. The tactical combat, the abilities, and the MOBA influences all come together in a pretty cool way. And with the invite-only access and a rapidly growing community, it’s building a ton of hype for when it officially launches. If you’re curious and want to get in on the ground floor, I’d recommend hopping into their Discord. You can stay updated, give feedback, and be part of the journey as Deadlock evolves.
Keep an eye on Valve’s YouTube and Twitter for more updates as this one continues to develop. It’s gonna be fun to see where it goes from here!
