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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Deadlock''}}
{{Infobox Game
|name=Deadlock
|developer=[[Valve Corporation]]
|engine=[[Source 2]]
|released=<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">TBA
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">'''[[Early Development Build]]'''<br> April 24, 2024</div>
|genre=[[wikipedia:Third-person shooter|Third-person shooter]], <br> [[wikipedia:Multiplayer online battle arena|MOBA]]
|image=[[File:Deadlock.jpg|259px]]
|distributors=[[wikipedia:Steam (service)|Steam]]
|writers=[[Steve Jaros]]
|platforms=[[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]
|website=[https://www.playdeadlock.com playdeadlock.com]
|designers=[[IceFrog]], <br> [[Duncan Naoki Drummond|Hopoo]]
|version={{#invoke:UpdateExcerpt|getDateLink}}
}}

'''''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 ==
''Main article: [[Mechanics]]''

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. 

Heroes level up, unlock abilities, and equip [[Weapon]], [[Vitality]], and [[Spirit]] items in slots. Additional [[Flex]] slots are unlocked by completing objectives.

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.

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.

== Setting & Theme ==
''Main article: [[Lore]]''

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.

== 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''.''

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" />

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>

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>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Development Timeline
!Date
!Events
|-
|Early 2018
|Creation of ''Citadel''
|-
|April 2019
|First ''Citadel'' leaks in ''Dota 2'' files
|-
|September 2020
|''Neon Prime'' appID added on Steam, first leaks found in ''Dota 2'' files
|-
|2020-2022
|Development of ''Neon Prime''
|-
|October 2022
|''Neon Prime'' trademark registered
|-
|Late 2022
|''Neon Prime'' canceled, transition to ''Shadowline/Deadlock''
|-
|Early 2023-July 2023
|Development of Caldera_trooper map (art style transition)
|-
|Late 2023
|Development of Cursed Apple map
|-
|November 2023
|''playshadowline.com'' domain registered
|-
|February 2024
|''Deadlock'' tutorial videos recorded
|-
|April 2024
|Beginning of playtest, creation of forums and Discord server
|-
|May 2024
|First ''Deadlock'' leaks, trademark registered, email invite system
|-
|June 2024
|Steam friend invite system
|-
|August 2024
|Steam page created, embargo lifted, forums made public
|-
|February 2025
|[[Update:February 25, 2025|Map Rework]] update
|-
|May 2025
|[[Update:May 8, 2025|Shop Rework]] update
|-
|August 2025
|[[Six New Heroes]] update
|-
|January 2026
|[[Old Gods, New Blood]] update, ''playdeadlock.com'' updated
|-
|July 2026
|[[Matchmaking update]]
|}

== Invites ==
Any player with access to ''Deadlock'' can invite an unlimited number of Steam friends.

Here are recommended resources to get an invite:

[https://steamcommunity.com/app/1422450/discussions/ Deadlock Steam forums]

[https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadlockTheGame/comments/1pymz6o/megathread_ask_for_invites_to_the_playtest_here/ Reddit r/DeadlockTheGame invite megathread]

[https://discord.com/channels/1243977533133820045/1277090189872992356 Deadlock Community Discord invite thread]

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.

'''<big>Getting access to the game will NEVER require clicking a link or making a payment.</big>'''

=== Official forums ===
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.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Deadlock Logo.png|Logo
File:Title screen.png|Title screen
File:Deadlock old cover.jpg|Old cover art
File:DeadlockWikiBG.png|Old main menu screen
File:3 lane update.jpg|3 lane update art
File:City concept art.png|Concept art
File:Building concept art.jpg|Concept art
File:Background gothic.png|Concept art
File:City buildings BW.png|Concept art
File:City buildings.jpg|Concept art
File:Deadlock Logo old.webp|Old logo
</gallery>

== Trivia ==

* ''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'']].
* ''Deadlock'' is Valve's second game in the MOBA genre after '''''Dota 2''''', [[List_of_references#References_to_Dota|which it often references]].

== References ==
<references />{{Development History}}
[[Category:Deadlock Wiki]]