Valve Pauses 'Deadlock' Updates for Refinements

Deadlock 2025: Fewer, Bigger Updates from Valve

Valve has announced a shift in its update strategy for Deadlock in 2025, moving towards larger, less frequent patches. This follows a year of consistent updates in 2024. While this may disappoint some players expecting constant changes, it promises more substantial updates with a greater impact.

Deadlock, Valve's free-to-play MOBA-style hero shooter, launched on Steam earlier in 2024 after early gameplay leaks. It's quickly gained traction in a competitive market, including against the popular Marvel Rivals, thanks to its distinctive steampunk aesthetic and polished gameplay. However, the current rapid update cycle is hindering Valve's internal development process.

According to PCGamesN, Valve developer Yoshi explained on the official Deadlock Discord that the previous bi-weekly update schedule is proving too restrictive. The new approach will allow for more thorough internal iteration and give external changes time to settle before subsequent updates.

The recent winter update, featuring unique gameplay alterations, serves as a preview of this new direction. Future updates will be larger and less frequent, resembling major events rather than small hotfixes. Hotfixes will still be deployed as needed. Yoshi confirmed that major patches will no longer follow a fixed schedule.

Deadlock currently boasts 22 playable characters, plus 8 additional heroes in Hero Labs mode. Its innovative anti-cheat measures and diverse roster have contributed to its success. While an official release date remains unannounced, more news is expected in 2025. The game's future likely includes continued limited-time events and special game modes, mirroring the live service model of similar titles.