Deadlock
Deadlock is a 6v6 third-person shooter and MOBA developed by Valve Corporation. It was first publicly announced on August 23, 2024.[1] 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.[1]
Gameplay
In Deadlock, the main goal is to destroy the enemy's Patron in their base while defending your own. The map has four lanes protected by Walkers/Guardians that send waves of troopers. Two teams, The Sapphire Flame and The Amber Hand, each with six players, compete using Heroes with unique abilities that can be upgraded throughout the game.[2] Souls are the key resource, acting as both experience points and currency. Collecting souls empowers the team, unlocks 'boons' from the Patron, and enhances Heroes' stats and abilities.
As Heroes level up, they gain access to stronger abilities. They also have four item slots for Weapons, Vitality, and Spirit, with additional Flex slots unlocked by completing map objectives. Players use souls to buy items, earned by actions like killing creeps, defeating enemy heroes, and destroying buildings. Deadlock takes inspiration from Dota 2, emphasizing tactics, teamwork, and strategic play, all within a third-person perspective that blends skill-shots, movement, and gunplay.[2]
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.