Valve Revamps Deadlock Development Amid Online Decline

Deadlock, the innovative MOBA-shooter from Valve, has recently seen a significant decline in its player base, with peak online numbers now hovering around 20,000 players. In response, Valve has announced a strategic shift in the game's development process to address these challenges and enhance the overall gaming experience.

Valve is moving away from the previous bi-weekly update schedule for Deadlock. Instead, major updates will now be released without a fixed timeline. This change aims to allow more time for thorough development and testing, resulting in more substantial and impactful updates. According to the developers, this new approach will enable them to better refine the game's features and mechanics. Meanwhile, hotfixes will continue to be deployed regularly to address any immediate issues that arise.

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The decision to alter the update schedule comes after Valve recognized that the previous two-week cycle did not allow enough time for changes to fully integrate and function as intended. This adjustment in strategy is a proactive step to ensure the game's long-term success and player satisfaction.

Despite the drop in player numbers, with peak online counts falling from over 170,000 to between 18,000 and 20,000 by early 2025, there's no need for alarm. Deadlock is still in its early development phase and does not yet have a set release date. This suggests that a launch in the near future is unlikely, especially as Valve appears to be prioritizing the development of a new Half-Life game.

Valve's focus remains on delivering a high-quality product. The company believes that by prioritizing the developers' ability to create meaningful updates, they can ultimately provide a better experience for players. This approach mirrors the development journey of Dota 2, which also saw changes in its update frequency over time. Therefore, the current adjustments to Deadlock's development process should be seen as a positive step towards creating a more engaging and polished game.