Highlights:
* According to the estimated Deadlock release date, the upcoming shooter will be accessible globally in late 2025 or early 2026.
* Deadlock’s development was revealed in August when it almost had 90,000 playtesters.
After numerous leaks, Valve acknowledged the existence of their upcoming 6v6 hero shooter called Deadlock on August 23. The developers also revealed some staggering numbers. Having initially begun with 20,000 testers, the servers now host up to 90,000 players. The upcoming title blends shooter with MOBA to create dynamic gameplay that has early access users singing its praises online. As such, the gaming community is excited about the Deadlock release date.
Deadlock Release Date, Platforms, And Official Teaser Trailer
Valve has neither given a Deadlock release date nor a release window. It is still in early development, as mentioned on the Steam page, such that the gameplay and art are not finalized. The developers had been secretive about the shooting title and such a cautious approach could transition to its launch. Following the alpha tests, a public early access or beta release is expected to be next in line.
Playtests for the game supposedly began in May 2023 and the title was officially revealed a year later. Thus, the estimated Deadlock release window is the fourth quarter of 2025 or early 2026. Valve will have plenty of time for bug fixes, visual improvements, and character changes. Another advantage is that it can assess SUPERVIVE, the fellow shooter-MOBA arriving later this year, and take notes of what it missed.
Currently, Deadlock is only available on Steam. The game description page is empty except for a teaser trailer and a cover image. As recently pointed out by a developer, Valve’s Deadlock breaks Steam policy regarding insufficient gameplay screenshots.
Although the game is exclusively available on Steam, it has a high chance of arriving in consoles post the PC launch. A similar case is for the upcoming team-based shooter Spectre Divide.
Valve hasn’t revealed the Deadlock release date but the devs fortunately did bless us with a teaser trailer. It features one of the playable characters standing next to a store while ominous music plays in the background. At the 0:14 mark, one can also see three characters stealthily moving to the other side of the street.
How Many Heroes Are In Deadlock?
As of writing, Deadlock has 17 playable heroes. Each hero has a different set of skills that complement their role in the game, namely healer, sniper, assassin, and tank. Here is the list of heroes:-
- Abrams
- Bebop
- Dynamo
- Gray Talon
- Haze
- Infernus
- Kelvin
- Lady Geist
- Lash
- McGinnis
- Mo & Krill
- Paradox
- Seven
- Vindicta
- Wraith
- Yamato
- Also Read: Deadlock Hero Tier List: Best Heroes Ranked
How Is The Deadlock Gameplay Different From Other Shooters?
Shooting with MOBA is a fun mix. In the 6v6 Deadlock battles, players have to lead AI-controlled minions down four lanes and destroy the enemy defenses. You can also clash with the opponents, strategically using a hero’s skill to eliminate them. Coins can be earned by defeating the enemy minions and heroes which in turn can be used to purchase upgrades.
Deadlock’s gameplay is akin to a classic MOBA game like League of Legends, except that the heroes have guns and the action takes place in a third-person perspective. More features will be added to the game.
