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The Early Development Build is the semi-open alpha of ''[[Deadlock]].'' It is currently the build in which the game is played. It possesses a wide array of placeholder designs and models. In order to access the build, one must first receive an invite from someone who already has access. 

The official [https://forums.playdeadlock.com/ ''Deadlock'' forums] were created on April 3, 2024, and the first posts on the forum were made on April 16.<ref>2024-04-16 - [[Yoshi]]; Deadlock Forums - [https://forums.playdeadlock.com/threads/early-development-build-privacy.2/ Early Development Build Privacy]</ref> This is considered as the unofficial start date of the playtest. The [https://discord.com/channels/1231286446472691825 official Discord server] was created on April 20. 

Players can create an account on the forums and join the Discord server through a link in the game's main menu screen, in the lower right corner. 

== Invitation Process ==
During the alpha an invitation tree system is used to handle access to the game.

When invited, players would receive an email containing details for logging into the game's official forums as well as instructions on how to activate the game via Steam.

Initially, players with access to the game could invite others by manually sending a request to an official address or by submitting recruitment requests on the forums. The initial intention with this system was to gradually expand the player base to allow Deadlock players to play the game with their "usual friend group" so long as they were trusted and could play on U.S. servers.

In the [[Update: May 3, 2024| May 5th, 2024 Update]] the game client was updated with the Recommend A Friend system which involved submitting the invitation recipient's email address, region and a short piece of information about who was being invited. Until additional server regions were added starting with EU servers in the [[Update: June 20, 2024|June 20th, 2024 Update]], only U.S. region requests were accepted though no verification was in place to prevent non-U.S. players from being invited by setting the region falsely.

The Recommend A Friend system was then reworked in the [[Update: June 6, 2024|June 6th, 2024 Update]] to instead utilise Steam. The new system had a recency requirement, meaning that the inviter needed be friends with the invitee for a specific amount of time before sending an invite was allowed and limited accounts could not be invited.

In the June 20th, 2024 Update, the recency requirement was removed due to concerns about inviting friends who weren't initially added as Steam friends as well as additional systems being added allowing the developers to better filter invitations.

== Embargo ==
Despite various leaks, an embargo was initially in place preventing sharing of information about Deadlock by those with access. On August 23rd, 2024, Yoshi announced via the forums and official Discord server that this restriction was being lifted and allowing for sharing of information about the game including creating videos and streaming. Subsequently, the official forums were made publicly viewable.

== Curfew ==
Until the [[Update: September_12,_2024|September 12th, 2024 Update]] matchmaking and PvP server uptime was restricted to specific periods for each server region. It was possible to circumvent this by changing server regions via a console command (which was allowed though discouraged by the developers).

Following the update, servers and matchmaking for all regions were set to be open 24/7.

== Feedback Process ==
During the alpha, feedback is heavily encouraged. However, due to developer concerns about echo chambers of opinions being formed, it is encouraged that all feedback be given via the game's official forums. The forums contain various sections for different kinds of feedback and have permissions set so that users can only view their own posts. In theory this helps prevent players from giving feedback simply because they saw others giving the same feedback and helps the developers better zero in on points where several players have independently given the same feedback.

== Experimental Build ==
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>2025-05-01 - atahutahatena on Reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumors - [https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1kclj5p/streamer_accidentally_leaks_hero_roster_of_a_more/ Streamer accidentally leaks hero roster of a more "secret" private Deadlock pre-alpha playtest build]</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category:Gameplay]]
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[[Category:Deadlock development history]]