Eager to know the Deadlock release date? Valve’s once highly secretive project is now fully revealed, and there’s a buzz of excitement surrounding Deadlock. This hero shooter has been in development for several years under wraps, but now it boasts a dedicated Steam page, a flood of new gameplay footage, and an exclusive closed playtest that has already seen player numbers skyrocket. If you’re keen to jump into the action, we also cover how you might gain access to the Deadlock playtest.
Deadlock Release Date Estimate
We anticipate the full Deadlock release to be no earlier than late 2025, given its current early access phase. However, an early build is accessible right now if you secure an invitation directly from Valve or through friends who already have access.
Valve officially unveiled Deadlock on August 23, 2024, allowing press and content creators to openly discuss the game and share their experiences. During this announcement, developer ‘Yoshi’ confirmed in the community Discord that Deadlock would remain invite-only for the foreseeable future, emphasizing its status as an “early development stage with extensive temporary art and experimental gameplay.”
Our hands-on experience reveals that Deadlock, while showing surprising areas of polish, is still visibly in its foundational stages. Valve continues to introduce new Deadlock characters during this early development, suggesting the hero roster could expand significantly before the final launch. Considering it’s far from a beta state, a solid year of development seems likely before we see a full release.
Deadlock Trailers and First Looks
Currently, only a brief teaser is available on Deadlock’s Steam page, offering little insight into the game itself. Fortunately, a wealth of gameplay footage has emerged, and we’ve personally had the opportunity to dive into this innovative shooter/MOBA hybrid. Our early impressions are highly positive, and we’re optimistic about Deadlock’s promising future.
Deadlock Gameplay Explained
Curious about how Deadlock plays? This title enters the competitive multiplayer arena, aiming to stand alongside popular games like Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Apex Legends. While drawing comparisons to DOTA due to its lane structure, its third-person perspective leans it more towards a Smite-like experience.
At its core, Deadlock operates as a MOBA. Players traverse lanes, farming enemies to acquire Souls, the in-game currency used to enhance character builds. The game features intense 6v6 combat where the primary objective is to demolish the opposing team’s Patron while vigorously defending your own. A diverse roster of characters is central to the game, with currently 23 heroes available. Each offers a unique set of skills and abilities, catering to various playstyles from precision snipers to expert crowd controllers.
Latest Deadlock News and Updates
Deadlock receives almost weekly updates focusing on character balancing, but there’s also significant news worth highlighting. Valve recently brought Duncan Drummond, a co-creator of Risk of Rain 2, onto the Deadlock development team.
October 2024 saw an update that introduced six new heroes to the game: Fathom, Wrecker, Viper, Calico, Holliday, and Wrecker. These characters are exclusively available in Hero Labs, an experimental game mode designed for testing new heroes before their official inclusion. Since names, abilities, and even character models are subject to change, Hero Labs offers a unique chance to experience these heroes in their early, work-in-progress state.
A substantial update in late November 2024 delivered numerous balance changes and a particularly welcome feature: the ability for players to browse and favorite builds directly from the dashboard. This means you no longer need to enter a match just to review meta builds, allowing for easier strategizing during downtime.
December 2024 brought the addition of new character Raven to Hero Labs, alongside a festive map overhaul perfect for the holiday season. January 2025 initiated a significant roster shake-up as Holliday, Calico, Vyper, and The Magnificent Sinclair transitioned from Hero Labs to become permanent members of the cast.
February 2025 marked perhaps the most fundamental game-changing update yet, featuring major alterations to the map. The most impactful change saw Deadlock shift from a four-lane structure to three, necessitating a comprehensive rebalance of its core gameplay systems.
Following a period of relative quiet from Valve, May 2025’s update introduced a complete shop redesign, new items, and a host of further balance adjustments.
In July 2025, Valve implemented nerfs to both gun and ability damage by 5% and approximately 8% respectively. This change aimed to increase time-to-kill, providing players with more opportunities to react and fight back when caught in combat.
Deadlock roared back to life in August 2025 with a massive visual overhaul, an expansive new social hub, and the introduction of six additional heroes. The game’s stunning new look suggests it might be nearing its final stages of polish, hinting at a potential 1.0 launch in the near future (though we acknowledge this is wishful thinking!).
While that covers the current Deadlock release date and news, if you’re excited about this upcoming game, explore some of the best multiplayer games and MOBAs you can play right now. For those who have access to the Deadlock playtest, Deadlock Rank offers the latest stats for agents, items, and more to enhance your gameplay.