People are saying that Valve has been testing a game called Deadlock, which they’ve been working on since 2018.
This information comes from people who participated in the playtest and leaked images of the game online.
Valve’s New Hero Shooter Deadlock Leaked
Valve’s next game seems to be a multiplayer hero shooter called Deadlock. This news comes from playtesters who leaked images on social media today, and the details were confirmed by well-known Valve data miners @GabeFollower and Tyler McVicker.
@GabeFollower posted on X, saying, “Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here are ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon.”
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.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz
— Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024
The post included four screenshots of the game, showing characters (one looks like the Sniper from Team Fortress 2) fighting on a city map that resembles Half-Life 2’s City 17. Another image shows a hero named Grey Talon with their weapon and ability icons and a short description.
Valve hadn’t mentioned Deadlock before, so this reveal is a surprise. Earlier this week, GabeFollower described Deadlock as “fast-paced interesting ADHD gameplay.
Combination of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, Orcs Must Die.” The Verge has asked Valve for comments.
Valve is known for its PC platform Steam and the Steam Deck, but it still makes games. Last year, they released Counter-Strike 2, an update to Counter-Strike GO.
In 2017, Valve president Gabe Newell said they were working on three VR games, including the 2020 hit Half-Life: Alyx. Deadlock doesn’t seem to be a VR game, so Valve might have even more secret projects coming up.
Much of this information has been confirmed by Valve reporter Tyler McVicker (via Eurogamer), who says that a closed alpha playtest is happening with “hundreds” of people playing.
YouTubers who focus on competitive gaming have also been invited to the playtest.
Content creator Gabe Follower shared more details about Deadlock, describing it as a “competitive third-person, hero-based shooter” with “6v6 battles on a large map with four lanes, usable abilities, and items.”
The game includes tower defense mechanics and a setting that combines fantasy with steampunk. Characters include magicians, “weird creatures, and robots.” The game also allows fast travel using floating rails, similar to Bioshock Infinite.