Amid an online decline, Valve changes the development flow for Deadlock

Deadlock's player base has significantly shrunk, with peak online numbers now below 20,000. In response, Valve has altered its development approach.

Major updates for Deadlock will no longer follow a fixed schedule. This change, according to a developer, allows for more thorough development and ultimately, more substantial updates. Regular hotfixes will still be deployed as needed.

Image: discord.gg

Previously, Deadlock received bi-weekly updates. While this schedule was initially beneficial, it proved insufficient for proper implementation and testing of changes. This prompted Valve's strategic shift.

Deadlock's player count has plummeted from over 170,000 at its peak to a current range of 18,000-20,000 daily players.

However, this doesn't signal impending doom. The MOBA-shooter remains in early development, with no release date set. A 2025 or later release is highly probable, particularly considering Valve's apparent prioritization of the new Half-Life project.

Valve's focus remains on quality. The company believes a superior product will naturally attract players and revenue. This adjusted development strategy prioritizes developer efficiency, mirroring the evolution of Dota 2's update cycle. Therefore, there's no reason for alarm.