Valve Delays Deadlock Updates

Deadlock's 2025 Update Schedule: Fewer, Bigger Patches

Valve has announced a shift in its update strategy for Deadlock in 2025, prioritizing larger, less frequent patches over the consistent, smaller updates seen in 2024. This decision, communicated via the official Deadlock Discord, stems from challenges in maintaining the previous two-week update cycle. While this may disappoint some players anticipating continuous content, it promises more substantial updates with a greater impact.

Deadlock, Valve's free-to-play MOBA-style hero shooter, launched earlier in 2024 after initial gameplay leaks. It quickly established itself in the competitive hero shooter market, even alongside the popular Marvel Rivals, thanks to its polished steampunk aesthetic and diverse roster. The game's success throughout 2024, however, has led Valve to re-evaluate its update approach.

According to a statement by Valve developer Yoshi, the revised schedule aims to improve the development process. The previous two-week cycle proved to hinder internal iteration and often didn't allow sufficient time for external adjustments before the next update. This change means major patches will no longer adhere to a fixed schedule. Instead, these updates will be larger and more spaced out, functioning more like events. Hotfixes will still be deployed as needed.

The recent winter update, featuring unique gameplay changes, serves as a preview of this new approach, hinting at future limited-time events and modes. With 22 playable characters and an additional 8 in Hero Labs mode, Deadlock offers considerable variety and a unique anti-cheat system. While an official release date remains unconfirmed, Valve plans to share more Deadlock news in 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• Reduced Update Frequency: Deadlock will receive fewer updates in 2025.
• Larger Update Scope: Future updates will be significantly larger and more impactful.
• Continued Hotfixes: Smaller bug fixes and adjustments will still be released as needed.
• Event-Driven Updates: Updates will likely incorporate limited-time events and modes.
• No Official Release Date Yet: The official launch date for Deadlock remains unannounced.