It seems that hundreds of people are currently participating in a closed alpha. Exciting, isn’t it? What could this mean for the future of the game?
Tl;dr
- A new Valve game, Deadlock, is in advanced development.
- IceFrog, developer of DotA, leads the project initiated in 2018.
- Deadlock is Valve’s attempt to bring together various gaming communities.
- The Valve touch hints at an imminent official announcement.
Deadlock, Valve’s Next Masterpiece
According to content creators, Valve is poised to unveil its new masterpiece: Deadlock. Led by IceFrog, the renowned developer behind the DotA mod, the game began to take shape in 2018.
From the DotA Mod to the Third-Person Hero Shooter
This unique title is actually an evolved third-person “hero shooter” based on the project “Neon Prime.” It represents Valve’s ambition to bring together various gaming communities by offering a gaming experience that combines Counter-Strike style shooting precision and MOBA laning objectives.
Tyler McVicker, a seasoned Valve reporter, mentions a game that could be “the next Counter-Strike, the next Dota.” He describes it as a clever blend of Valorant, Overwatch, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2.
A Gaming Universe Between Fantasy and Steampunk
The game is set in a universe characterized by a blend of fantasy and steampunk. This is a noticeable shift from the initially envisioned science fiction-oriented Neon Prime game. Four screenshots shared by content creator Gabe Follower, however, showcase a game that is more understated than what one might expect from comparisons to Overwatch and Valorant.
These images depict a gameplay dynamic of 6 versus 6 spread across four lanes, suggesting a mix of solo gameplay and 2 versus 2 duels. “Transit lines” allowing players to return quickly to their lanes have also been highlighted, reminiscent of League of Legends’ hex gates.
Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.com/KdZSRxObSz
— Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024
Towards an Imminent Announcement?
After Counter-Strike 2 and Half-Life: Alyx, it seems that Valve is about to launch a new major intellectual property. Deadlock is currently in a closed alpha and is already being tested by hundreds of players.
That being said, knowing Valve, it’s never too late for the project to be canceled. However, with June traditionally being rich in announcements in the video game industry, an official announcement could come very soon.