"Valve Unveils Deadlock: New MOBA Shooter on Steam"

Valve has officially broken its silence on its new project, Deadlock, by unveiling a Steam store page for the game. This article delves into the lifted restrictions by Valve, the latest beta statistics, detailed gameplay insights, and the reasons behind the controversy surrounding Valve's approach.

Valve Officially Announces Deadlock's Public Availability

Valve has finally lifted the curtain on Deadlock, its eagerly awaited MOBA shooter, which has been generating significant buzz within the gaming community. Over the weekend, Valve confirmed the game's existence and launched its official Steam page. The closed beta for Deadlock achieved a new peak of 89,203 concurrent players, a sharp increase from the previous high of 44,512 on August 18.

Previously, Deadlock was shrouded in mystery, known only through leaks and speculation. Valve had enforced strict confidentiality, but they have now relaxed these restrictions, allowing public discussions, streaming, and community engagement about the game. However, Valve emphasizes that Deadlock remains invite-only and is in early development, featuring temporary art and experimental features.

Deadlock Promising To Be A MOBA Shooter

As reported by The Verge, Deadlock combines elements from both MOBA and shooter genres, creating a dynamic gameplay experience. The game features 6-on-6 combat, reminiscent of Overwatch, where teams compete to push back opponents while managing NPC grunts across multiple lanes. This setup results in a constantly evolving battlefield where both human-controlled heroes and NPC allies play pivotal roles.

Deadlock's matches are fast-paced and intense, requiring players to juggle leading their Troopers and engaging in direct combat. The game introduces innovative mechanics such as frequent Trooper respawns, continuous wave-based battles, and strategic use of powerful abilities and upgrades. Gameplay emphasizes coordination and tactical depth, with a mix of melee and ranged combat, and movement options like sliding, dashing, and zip-lining to navigate the map.

The game boasts 20 different heroes, each with unique abilities and playstyles, encouraging experimentation and teamwork. Despite its early development stage, Deadlock shows significant potential, and Valve's strategy of inviting players for feedback and testing adds an intriguing layer to its development process.

Valve’s Controversial Approach to Store Standards

In a surprising move, Valve appears to be bending its own Steam Store guidelines for Deadlock. According to Valve’s standards, a game page must feature at least five screenshots. However, Deadlock’s store page currently only includes a single teaser video, which briefly showcases an alley and figures with weapons.

This deviation has sparked criticism, with some arguing that Valve, as a Steamworks Partner, should adhere to the same rules as other developers. Similar controversy arose during a March 2024 sale of The Orange Box, where Valve added promotional stickers to its store page, an issue that was later rectified. 3DGlyptics, the publisher and developer of B.C. Piezophile, has pointed out that Valve's actions could undermine the consistency and fairness of Steam’s platform policies.

Despite the controversy, Valve's dual role as both a game developer and platform owner might mean traditional enforcement mechanisms do not apply. As Deadlock progresses through its development and testing phases, it remains to be seen how Valve will address these concerns, if at all.