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|image=[[File:Deadlock.jpg|259px]]

|distributors=[[wikipedia:Steam (service)|Steam]]

|designers=[[IceFrog]], <br> [[Duncan Naoki Drummond|Hopoo]]

|links=[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1422450/ Steam page] <br> [https://forums.playdeadlock.com/ Official forums]}}

 

'''''Deadlock''''' is an upcoming [[wikipedia:Third-person_shooter|third-person shooter]] [[wikipedia:Multiplayer_online_battle_arena|MOBA]] developed 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 game is still in development and is currently being 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> access to which can only be provided by accepting a Steam Playtest [[Deadlock#Invites|invite]] requested by a Steam friend who already has access.

 

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 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.

[[File:Neon Prime HUD.png|left|thumb|''Neon Prime''. [[Infernus|Inferno]] is attacking the enemy [[Guardian]]]]

''Deadlock'' was first officially teased by [[Valve]] in the digital book ''[https://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/The_Final_Hours_of_Half-Life:_Alyx The Final Hours of Half-Life Alyx]'' (2020), which mentioned "a top-secret new project that another small team at Valve has been working on since the first part of 2018".<ref>{{YouTubeCite|video=IqimxjIRIlw&t=5032s|title=The Final Hours of Half Life: Alyx (Full Game No Commentary)}}</ref> It was initially known as ''[[Citadel]]'' before evolving into a sci-fi third-person MOBA called ''[[Neon Prime]].'' Valve trademarked ''Neon Prime'' in October 2022,<ref>[https://uspto.report/TM/97625453 ''Neon Prime'' trademark] on USPTO.report</ref> but its playtesters were reportedly critical of the game's art style and poor visibility,<ref>{{YouTubeCite|OJ-fXZtrS-4|Valve's Playtesters Hated This Game (and it got canceled...)}}</ref> causing ''Neon Prime'' to be reworked into ''[[Shadowline]]'' later that year and then ''Deadlock''.

While ''Deadlock'' hasn't been 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>

 

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>

* ''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'']].