Valve is one of the world’s leading game developers, responsible not only for the legendary Half-Life franchise, but also for some of the most popular online games in history – Counter Strike, Team Fortress, and Dota 2. Because of this, sudden news of a new online shooter by Valve in alpha testing has shaken the gaming community. We don’t know a whole lot yet, other than the game’s name – Deadlock.
What do we know about Deadlock so far and what do the players think? Here at SkinsMonkey we present to you a quick rundown of all the important news about the upcoming Valve game, Deadlock!
What Do We Know About The New Valve Game?
So far we don’t know too many details about the game, however, the alpha screenshots that got leaked and dug up by the X user Gabe Follower have revealed enough to more or less understand the gameplay, as well as meet some of the initial heroes. Previously known as codename Neon Prime, the game was meant to take place in the popular sci-fi Valve-verse, with Half-Life and Portal characters and locations, however, after poor reception by the testers this theme was dropped, and changed for an original fantasy setting mixed with sci-fi (though we can still expect the game to include some classic Valve references and crossovers).
While we only know rumors and hearsay so far, judging from the screenshots and other leaks Deadlock will be a third-person hero-based shooter, similar to games like Valorant and Overwatch. Players will compete on a map in teams of six players. So what’s the catch? Deadlock, gameplay-wise, will be far more than just a hero shooter. The game will feature a number of different gameplay mechanics, borrowing from games like Orcs Must Die, Dota, or Monday Night Combat. From what we’ve seen in the screenshots, the goal of the match will be to destroy the enemy base. This is done with a combination of tower defense mechanics and minions moving on floating rails, just like in Dota 2. The map will be separated into four different lanes, and players will be assisting weird creatures in pushing those lanes to victory. Just like in Dota, the new hero shooter will include characters with different skill sets, each with four different usable abilities to choose from.
We don’t know anything about the roster for the next Valve game, aside from some portraits and low-res hero models, however, the leak included one hero – Grey Talon – together with their skill set. While we don’t know anything regarding the other characters in the game, it’s fair to say that there will be quite a number of different characters to choose from, each with a separate style and gameplay. The action will also supposedly take place on a huge map, with a fast-travel feature for players to easily reach the front.
Will There Be Skins In Deadlock?
As soon as the leak was out, many players immediately started asking themselves – will there be skins in Deadlock? Although we don’t know a concrete answer to this question yet, considering Valve’s policy regarding game development, it’s safe to say that there will be cosmetic skins in Deadlock. The game will feature different characters for players to master and choose from, and players will most likely be able to buy, sell, and trade Deadlock skins, just like any other Valve game. While we don’t know the details, it’s very likely that players will be able to outfit different Deadlock heroes with new skins.
What Do Players Think About Deadlock?
Although the game’s alpha leaks were big news, the information about Deadlock has been released to somewhat mixed-to-negative views. Some of the Counter Strike players were a bit salty that Valve is currently working on a huge, new project, while their flagship online shooter is in a poor state, with bugs and cheaters abound. This isn’t to mention all the Half-Life fans, for whom waiting for the 3rd installment of the series has become a popular meme. In addition, the last two online games released by Valve, Underlords and Artifact, had a terrible release each, with both of the games going on life-support in incredibly short amount of time. Still, many players are willing to give Valve some leeway, considering that Deadlock appears to be a far bigger and more ambitious project than the previous two online games from Valve’s stable.
When Will Deadlock Release?
We don’t have any concrete date for the game’s release, and considering that Deadlock is still in the Alpha testing, it’s most likely not going to be released anytime in the nearest feature. If you want to read up on any news regarding the game’s release, make sure to check out our blog regularly, and in the meantime, make sure to visit SkinsMonkey, where you can trade CS2 skins for the best prices possible!
A true gaming enthusiast, especially Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rust. At SkinsMonkey, he is involved in creating game guides based on his own experience.
