Deadlock
Deadlock is a 6v6 third-person shooter and MOBA developed by Valve Corporation.[1] The game blends MOBA and hero shooter gameplay. It was first publicly announced on August 23, 2024.[2] The game's release was unconventional and marked by a deliberate approach of secrecy before public acknowledgement. The game can only be played be receiving an invite from a Steam friend who already has the game. The game is still in development and is played through an Early Development Build.[2]
Gameplay
In Deadlock, two teams of 6, The Sapphire Flame and The Amber Hand, battle through 4 lanes of New York. Each team being under the command of a god, called a Patron. The objective is to destroy the enemy's Patron while defending your own to complete The Ritual and summon your teams Patron. Players control Heroes with upgradable abilities, and items are 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. Additional Flex slots are unlocked by completing objectives. The game blends elements of shooters and MOBAs. It focuses on tactics, teamwork, and strategy, with third-person skill shots, movement, and gunplay. The game also has a unique zipline system for long-distance transportation.
Development
Deadlock was originally meant to be a sci-fi third-person MOBA called Neon Prime. It was also known as Citadel, Project8 and Shadowline at various points in its early development. Valve trademarked Neon Prime in October 2022, but the game was renamed to Deadlock later that year. The game was leaked on various occasions from 2022 to 2024, and Valve listed the game on Steam in August 2024.
Setting & Theme
In the world of Deadlock, occult rituals and magic anomalies are commonplace and heavily regulated. The game takes place in an alternate 1900s version of New York called The Cursed Apple. 2 covenants battle to complete the Ritual and summon their Patron, a god capable of granting wishes. Each character has their own wishes and reason for wanting to summon the Patron, but their fates collide on the streets of New York. The game has strong occult themes blended with an old-school American style.
References
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