Amid Ongoing Downtrend, Valve Revamps Development for 'Deadlock'

Deadlock's player base has significantly shrunk, with peak online numbers now under 20,000. In response, Valve is altering its development approach.

Major updates for Deadlock will no longer follow a fixed two-week schedule. This change, according to a developer, allows for more thorough development and testing, resulting in more substantial updates. Regular hotfixes will continue as needed.

Image: discord.gg

The previous bi-weekly update cycle, while helpful, proved insufficient for implementing and properly testing changes. This prompted the strategic shift.

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

However, this doesn't signal the game's demise. Still in early development with no release date set, a launch in 2025 or beyond is entirely plausible, particularly given Valve's apparent focus on a new Half-Life title.

Valve's strategy prioritizes quality over speed. The company believes a superior product will naturally attract players and revenue. The adjusted update schedule primarily benefits the development team's workflow, mirroring the evolution of Dota 2's update cycle. Therefore, there's no immediate cause for alarm regarding Deadlock's future.