Deadlock, Valve’s Upcoming MOBA Shooter, Officially Revealed on Steam

After a period of intense secrecy, Valve's highly anticipated MOBA shooter, Deadlock, finally has its own Steam store page. Let's delve into the details: the lifted restrictions, the impressive beta stats, the intriguing gameplay, and the eyebrow-raising approach Valve has taken.

Valve Unveils Deadlock: Breaking the Silence

Deadlock's Public Debut

Valve has officially announced Deadlock, a MOBA shooter that's already generating considerable buzz. The weekend saw the launch of the official Steam page, confirming the game's existence. The closed beta reached a remarkable peak of 89,203 concurrent players, more than doubling its previous high of 44,512 on August 18th.

Previously shrouded in mystery, Deadlock was known only through leaks and speculation. Valve's tight-lipped approach has now shifted, with public discussion of the game now permitted. Streaming, community websites, and open conversations are all encouraged. However, it's important to note that Deadlock remains invite-only and is still in early development, featuring placeholder art and experimental mechanics.

Deadlock: A MOBA Shooter Hybrid

As reported by The Verge, Deadlock blends MOBA and shooter elements seamlessly. The 6-on-6 combat, reminiscent of Overwatch, sees teams battling for control, pushing opponents back while simultaneously managing waves of NPC grunts across multiple lanes. This dynamic creates a constantly evolving battlefield where both player-controlled heroes and AI allies are crucial.

Gameplay is fast-paced and intense, demanding players skillfully balance leading their Trooper units with direct combat participation. Innovative mechanics include frequent Trooper respawns, continuous wave-based battles, and strategic use of powerful abilities and upgrades. The game emphasizes coordination and tactical depth, incorporating melee and ranged combat, and agile movement options like sliding, dashing, and zip-lining.

Deadlock boasts a roster of 20 unique heroes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles, offering diverse options for experimentation and teamwork. Despite its early development stage, the game's potential is undeniable, and Valve's focus on player feedback through testing adds a unique layer to its release strategy.

Valve's Controversial Store Listing

Interestingly, Valve appears to be deviating from its own Steam Store guidelines for Deadlock. Valve's standards typically require at least five screenshots for a game page. However, Deadlock's current page features only a single teaser video, a short atmospheric shot of an alleyway.

This inconsistency has drawn criticism, with some arguing that Valve, as a Steamworks Partner, should uphold the same standards it sets for other developers. This echoes a similar debate surrounding the March 2024 sale of The Orange Box, where Valve faced criticism for promotional stickers on its store page (an issue later resolved). 3DGlyptics, the publisher and developer of B.C. Piezophile, has pointed out this deviation, suggesting it undermines the fairness and consistency of Steam's platform policies.

However, Valve's unique dual role as both developer and platform owner complicates the application of traditional enforcement mechanisms. As Deadlock progresses through development and testing, the resolution, if any, to these concerns remains to be seen.