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| {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Deadlock''}}
| | '''Deadlock''' is a third-person shooter developed by Valve Corporation. It was first publicly announced on August 23, 2024. 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 in an Early Development Build. |
| {{Infobox Game
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| |name=Deadlock
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| |developer=[[Valve Corporation]]
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| |engine=[[Source 2]]
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| |released=<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">TBA
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| <div class="mw-collapsible-content">'''[[Early Development Build]]'''<br> April 24, 2024</div>
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| |genre=[[wikipedia:Third-person shooter|Third-person shooter]], <br> [[wikipedia:Multiplayer online battle arena|MOBA]]
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| |image=[[File:Deadlock.jpg|259px]]
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| |distributors=[[wikipedia:Steam (service)|Steam]]
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| |writers=[[Steve Jaros]]
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| |platforms=[[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]
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| |website=[https://www.playdeadlock.com playdeadlock.com]
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| |designers=[[IceFrog]], <br> [[Duncan Naoki Drummond|Hopoo]]
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| |version={{#invoke:UpdateExcerpt|getDateLink}}
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| }}
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| '''''Deadlock''''' is a [[wikipedia:Third-person_shooter|third-person shooter]] [[wikipedia:Multiplayer_online_battle_arena|MOBA]] developed and published by [[Valve Corporation]]. It was first publicly announced on August 23, 2024, though it initially gained public attention after being leaked by playtesters earlier that year.<ref name=":1" /> The official website is https://www.playdeadlock.com/. The game can only be played by receiving an [[Deadlock#Invites|invite]] from a Steam friend who already has the game. The game is still in development and is played through a Closed Beta<ref>Listed as ''"Deadlock - Closed Beta Access"'' under Steam user licenses</ref> [[Early Development Build]].<ref name=":1">2024-08-26 - Paul Tassi on Forbes - [https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/08/26/valves-deadlock-instantly-rockets-to-90000-players-after-official-announcement/ Valve’s Deadlock Instantly Rockets To 90,000 Players After Official Announcement]</ref>
| | === Gameplay === |
| | The main objective is to destroy the enemy [[Patron]] inside the enemy team's base while protecting your [[Patron]] on a MOBA-styled [[map]]. The base is protected by multiple tiers of [[Walkers]]/[[Guardians]] along four lanes, which continuously funnel waves of [[troopers]]. The two competing teams, ''[[The Sapphire Flame]]'' and ''[[The Amber Hand]]'', each consist of six players. There are numerous [[Heroes]], each with unique abilities and characteristics that can be improved over the course of the game. |
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| == Gameplay ==
| | [[Souls]] are the primary source of power in the game, serving as both experience points and currency. Collecting them grants the player and their team more power, allowing them to earn 'boons' from their [[Patron]], which in turn increases their levels and enhances their [[Heroes|Heroes']] stats. As players level up, they unlock and upgrade their abilities. |
| ''Main article: [[Mechanics]]'' | |
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| In ''Deadlock's'' standard mode, two [[teams]] of 6 players, [[The Hidden King]] and [[The Archmother]], battle through 3 lanes of [[New York]]. Each team fights on behalf of a god, called a [[Patron]]. The objective is to destroy the enemy's Patron while defending your own to complete the ritual. 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. | | In addition to levelling, Heroes have four item slots in their inventory for three categories: [[Weapon]], [[Vitality]], and [[Spirit]]. There are also four [[Flex]] slots that can be unlocked by completing specific map objectives. Players [[The Curiosity Shop|purchase]] items using souls earned through various actions, killing creeps and enemy heroes, destroying buildings, claiming the spirit urn, and denying the enemy team's souls. |
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| Heroes level up, unlock abilities, and equip [[Weapon]], [[Vitality]], and [[Spirit]] items in slots. Additional [[Flex]] slots are unlocked by completing objectives.
| | Deadlock draws inspiration from Valve's ''Dota 2'', incorporating its heavy emphasis on tactics, team coordination, and strategic depth. It translates these elements into a third-person perspective, blending skill-shots, tactical engagements, omnidirectional movement, and gunplay to create a unique gameplay experience. |
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| The game blends elements of shooters and MOBAs. It focuses on tactics, teamwork, and strategy, with third-person skill shots, movement, and gunplay. It also has a unique [[Ziplines|zipline]] system for long-distance transportation. | | === 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. |
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| In addition to the standard gamemode, Deadlock also offers a ranked mode for more competitive play, and a 4v4 roguelike gamemode called [[Street Brawl]], where players fight in one lane over short rounds.
| | === 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. |
| == Setting & Theme == | |
| ''Main article: [[Lore]]''
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| In the world of ''Deadlock,'' [[wikipedia:Occult|occult]] rituals and magic anomalies are part of everyday life. The game takes place in an alternate version of early 20th century New York called [[The Cursed Apple]]. Two 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, and their fates collide on the streets of New York. The game's setting is an [[wikipedia:Urban_fantasy|urban fantasy]] with strong occult themes and elements of [[wikipedia:Noir_fiction|noir]], [[wikipedia:Gothic_fiction|gothic]], and [[wikipedia:Dieselpunk|dieselpunk]] fiction.
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| == Development == | |
| ''Deadlock'' was originally meant to be a sci-fi third-person MOBA called ''[[Neon Prime]].'' It was also known as ''[[Citadel]]'' and ''[[Shadowline]]'' at various points in its early development. Valve trademarked ''Neon Prime'' in October 2022,<ref>[https://uspto.report/TM/97625453 ''Neon Prime'' trademark] on USPTO.report</ref> but the game started being reworked into ''Deadlock'' later that year''.''
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| The currently ongoing ''Deadlock'' closed playtest began on April 2024,<ref>2024-04-16 - [[Yoshi]]; Deadlock Forums - [https://forums.playdeadlock.com/threads/early-development-build-privacy.2/ Early Development Build Privacy]</ref> when the official forums and Discord server were created, and the name was trademarked by Valve on May 2024.<ref>[https://uspto.report/TM/98576353 ''Deadlock'' trademark] on USPTO.report</ref> The game was leaked on various occasions from 2019 to 2024, and Valve listed the game on Steam in August 2024, after its playtest had already reached tens of thousands of concurrent players.<ref name=":1" />
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| While ''Deadlock'' hasn't been officially mentioned or promoted by Valve beyond its Steam page, various Valve employees, contractors and voice actors have acknowledged their work on the game on social media, and it was mentioned in the ''Half-Life 2'' anniversary documentary on November 2024.<ref>{{YouTubeCite|video=YCjNT9qGjh4&t=7135s|title=Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Documentary (1:58:55)}}</ref>
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| In May 2025, a second private ''Deadlock'' build was accidentally shared in a livestream, revealing then-upcoming new heroes and redesigns for existing heroes.<ref>2025-05-02 - [https://www.ign.com/person/SeaMoosi Eric Van Allen] of IGN - [https://www.ign.com/articles/valves-moba-shooter-deadlock-apparently-has-another-even-more-exclusive-build Valve's MOBA Shooter Deadlock Apparently Has Another, Even More Exclusive Build]</ref>
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| |+Development Timeline
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| !Date
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| !Events
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| |-
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| |Early 2018
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| |Creation of ''Citadel''
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| |-
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| |April 2019
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| |First ''Citadel'' leaks in ''Dota 2'' files
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| |-
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| |September 2020
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| |''Neon Prime'' appID added on Steam, first leaks found in ''Dota 2'' files
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| |-
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| |2020-2022
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| |Development of ''Neon Prime''
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| |-
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| |October 2022
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| |''Neon Prime'' trademark registered
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| |-
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| |Late 2022
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| |''Neon Prime'' canceled, transition to ''Shadowline/Deadlock''
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| |-
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| |Early 2023-July 2023
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| |Development of Caldera_trooper map (art style transition)
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| |-
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| |Late 2023
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| |Development of Cursed Apple map
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| |-
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| |November 2023
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| |''playshadowline.com'' domain registered
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| |-
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| |February 2024
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| |''Deadlock'' tutorial videos recorded
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| |-
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| |April 2024
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| |Beginning of playtest, creation of forums and Discord server
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| |-
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| |May 2024
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| |First ''Deadlock'' leaks, trademark registered, email invite system
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| |-
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| |June 2024
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| |Steam friend invite system
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| |-
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| |August 2024
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| |Steam page created, embargo lifted, forums made public
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| |-
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| |February 2025
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| |[[Update:February 25, 2025|Map Rework]] update
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| |-
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| |May 2025
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| |[[Update:May 8, 2025|Shop Rework]] update
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| |-
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| |August 2025
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| |[[Six New Heroes]] update
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| |-
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| |January 2026
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| |[[Old Gods, New Blood]] update, ''playdeadlock.com'' updated
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| |-
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| |July 2026
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| |[[Matchmaking update]]
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| |}
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| == Invites ==
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| Any player with access to ''Deadlock'' can invite an unlimited number of Steam friends.
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| Here are recommended resources to get an invite:
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| * [https://steamcommunity.com/app/1422450/discussions/ Deadlock Steam forums]
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| * [https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadlockTheGame/comments/1pymz6o/megathread_ask_for_invites_to_the_playtest_here/ Reddit r/DeadlockTheGame invite megathread]
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| * [https://discord.com/channels/1243977533133820045/1277090189872992356 Deadlock Community Discord invite thread]
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| An invite can take minutes to hours to be processed, and has to be accepted by the player. If the invite notification doesn't appear after a few hours, check your [https://store.steampowered.com/account/playtestinvites Steam playtest invites]. If a player has refused an invite in the past, they may be unable to receive a new one.
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| '''<big>Getting access to the game will NEVER require clicking a link or making a payment.</big>'''
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| === Official forums ===
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| Once a player has joined the game, they can click the "give feedback" button in the main menu to create a [https://forums.playdeadlock.com/ forum account] and join the [https://discord.com/channels/1231286446472691825/1231613274643238923 official Discord server]. Please note that the Discord link is one use only.
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| == Gallery ==
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| <gallery>
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| File:Deadlock Logo.png|Logo
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| File:Title screen.png|Title screen
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| File:Deadlock old cover.jpg|Old cover art
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| File:DeadlockWikiBG.png|Old main menu screen
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| File:3 lane update.jpg|3 lane update art
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| File:City concept art.png|Concept art
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| File:Building concept art.jpg|Concept art
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| File:Background gothic.png|Concept art
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| File:City buildings BW.png|Concept art
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| File:City buildings.jpg|Concept art
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| File:Deadlock Logo old.webp|Old logo
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| </gallery>
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| == Trivia ==
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| * ''Deadlock'' is Valve's first video game with an entirely original IP (not based on a mod, a sequel or spin-off of an existing IP, or acquired from third-party developers) since the original [[wikipedia:Half-Life_(video_game)|''Half-Life'']].
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| * ''Deadlock'' is Valve's second game in the MOBA genre after '''''Dota 2''''', [[List_of_references#References_to_Dota|which it often references]].
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| == References ==
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| <references />{{Development History}}
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| [[Category:Deadlock Wiki]]
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