Deadlock

Deadlock's logo.

Deadlock is a 6v6 third-person shooter and MOBA developed by Valve Corporation. It was first publicly announced on August 23, 2024. The game's release was unconventional and marked by a deliberate approach of secrecy before public acknowledgement. The initial distribution method involved inviting players through the Steam friends list feature. The game is still in development and is played through an Early Development Build.

Gameplay

In Deadlock, two teams of 6—the Sapphire Flame and the Amber Hand—battle on a city map with 4 lanes. The objective is to destroy the enemy's Patron, a massive golem while defending your own. Players control Heroes with upgradable abilities, and items bought using souls.

Souls are earned by defeating enemies and completing tasks. They can also unlock 'boons' from Patrons, which boost Hero stats. Heroes level up, unlock abilities, and equip items in slots for Weapon, Vitality, and Spirit, with additional Flex slots unlocked by completing objectives. The game blends elements of shooters and MOBAs, focusing on tactics, teamwork, and strategy with skill shots, movement, and gunplay in a third-person perspective. The game also has a unique zipline system for long-distance transportation.

Development

Deadlock was originally meant to be a futuristic third-person MOBA called Neon Prime. It was called numerous names in it's earliest stages of development. Valve trademarked Neon Prime on October 2022. The game was later renamed to Deadlock. The game was leaked on various occasions from 2022 to 2024. Valve listed the game on Steam in August 2024.

Theme and Setting

The game has a fantasy theme and is set in the early 1900's United States where occult rituals and magic anomalies are common place and heavily regulated. The game's current map is implied to be this universe's version of 'New York', where the ritual takes place. The ritual is between two patrons and whichever side is victorious will 'spawn' the patron into their world, allowing them to grant their side a 'boon'. Heroes are based on various tropes and ideas associated with the time while containing many unique contributions.

Lore

There is currently not much known about the lore of the game outside of in-game hero descriptions and a leaked graphic novel featuring Lady Geist and Infernus. Fantastic events are a deeply woven part of the game's lore and are often an explanation for heroes' abilities.