Valve's Deadlock: New Dev Flow Unveiled

Deadlock, Valve's MOBA-shooter, is undergoing a development shift in response to a significant player decline. Peak concurrent players have plummeted from over 170,000 to a current range of 18,000-20,000. This has prompted Valve to revise its update strategy.

Image: discord.gg

Previously adhering to a bi-weekly update schedule, Valve now intends to release major updates on a flexible timeline. This change, according to developers, allows for more thorough testing and implementation of updates, resulting in more substantial and polished releases. Regular hotfixes will still be deployed as needed.

While the player count drop is notable, Valve assures players this doesn't signal the game's demise. Deadlock remains in early access, with no release date set. The slower development pace may also be attributed to Valve's internal prioritization of a new Half-Life title.

The company's focus remains on delivering a high-quality experience, believing a superior product will organically attract and retain players. This approach mirrors the evolution of Dota 2's development cycle, which initially featured frequent updates before transitioning to a more refined process. Therefore, the altered development schedule shouldn't be interpreted as a negative sign for the future of Deadlock.