Valve Revamps Deadlock Development Amid Online Decline

Recently, Deadlock has seen a significant decline in its player base, with the game's peak online count now hovering below 20,000 players. In response, Valve has decided to adjust its development strategy for the game. The company plans to shift from a fixed update schedule to a more flexible one, allowing for more comprehensive updates without a set timeline. This change aims to enhance the quality of each update, as explained by one of the game's developers. Despite this, hotfixes will continue to be released as needed to address any urgent issues.

Image: discord.gg

Previously, Deadlock updates were rolled out every two weeks. While this was initially beneficial, the developers noted that it didn't allow enough time for changes to fully integrate and function correctly. Consequently, Valve has opted to alter its approach to ensure more substantial and effective updates.

At its peak, Deadlock on Steam boasted over 170,000 concurrent players. However, by early 2025, the highest daily player count has dwindled to between 18,000 and 20,000.

Does this signal trouble for the game? Not necessarily. Deadlock, a MOBA-shooter, is still in its early development phase and does not yet have a release date. This suggests that a launch in the near future is unlikely, especially with Valve's focus shifting towards the new Half-Life project, which has reportedly received internal approval.

Valve is taking its time, prioritizing the creation of a high-quality product. The belief is that satisfied players will naturally contribute to the company's revenue. This shift in development strategy is primarily about enhancing the developers' ability to deliver better updates. After all, Dota 2 also underwent similar changes in its early days, and there's no reason for concern with Deadlock.