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

Valve has finally broken the silence on its new shooter, Deadlock, with an official Steam store page. This article delves into the lifted restrictions, the latest beta stats, gameplay details, and the controversy surrounding Valve's approach to its own platform rules.

Valve Officially Announces Deadlock's Public Availability

Valve has unveiled Deadlock, its eagerly awaited MOBA shooter, which has captivated the gaming community. Over the weekend, Valve confirmed the game's existence and launched its official page on Steam. The closed beta for Deadlock reached a new peak with 89,203 concurrent players, more than doubling the previous peak of 44,512 on August 18.

Previously shrouded in secrecy, Deadlock was only known through leaks and speculation. Valve had maintained strict confidentiality until now, but the company has relaxed its stance. Valve has officially lifted the restrictions on public discussions about Deadlock, allowing streaming, community websites, and conversations about the game. Despite this increased openness, Valve emphasizes that the game remains invite-only and is still in early development with temporary art and experimental features.

Deadlock: A Promising MOBA Shooter

According to The Verge, Deadlock combines elements from both MOBA and shooter genres, offering dynamic gameplay. The game features 6-on-6 combat similar to Overwatch, where teams compete to push back opponents while managing an army of NPC grunts down multiple lanes. This setup creates a constantly evolving battlefield where both human heroes and NPC allies play crucial roles.

Matches in Deadlock are fast-paced and intense, requiring players to balance leading their Troopers and engaging in direct combat. The game’s innovative mechanics include frequent Trooper respawns, wave-based battles, and strategic use of powerful abilities and upgrades. The gameplay emphasizes coordination and tactical depth, with a mix of melee and ranged combat, and movement options like sliding, dashing, and zip-lining to navigate the map.

The game also features 20 different heroes, each with unique abilities and playstyles. From classic archetypes to inventive new characters, Deadlock offers a rich roster that encourages experimentation and teamwork. Despite being in early development, the game's potential is evident, and Valve’s approach to inviting players for feedback and testing adds a layer to its release strategy.

Valve’s Controversial Approach to Store Standards

Valve is reportedly not adhering to its own Steam Store guidelines for Deadlock. According to Valve’s standards, a game page must feature at least five screenshots. However, Deadlock’s store page currently includes only a single teaser video, showing a brief, atmospheric shot of an alley and passing figures with weapons.

This discrepancy has sparked criticism, with some arguing that Valve, as a Steamworks Partner, should follow the same rules as other developers. The same debate occurred during a March 2024 sale of The Orange Box, where Valve was criticized for adding promotional stickers to its store page, though this issue was later addressed. Valve’s deviation from its own rules has been noted by 3DGlyptics, the publisher and developer of B.C. Piezophile, who claims that Valve undermines the consistency and fairness of Steam’s platform policies.

Despite the controversy, Valve’s unique position as both a game developer and platform owner means that traditional enforcement mechanisms may not apply. As Deadlock continues its development and testing phases, it remains to be seen how Valve will address these concerns, if at all.