Valve to Suspend Deadlock Updates

Deadlock Update Schedule Shifting in 2025: Fewer, Larger Patches Planned

Valve has announced a change to its update strategy for Deadlock in 2025, moving towards larger, less frequent updates. This follows a year of consistent bi-weekly patches in 2024. While this might disappoint some players expecting continuous content, Valve assures that future updates will be more substantial and impactful, resembling in-game events rather than small fixes.

The decision, revealed on the official Deadlock Discord, stems from the challenges of maintaining the current two-week update cycle. According to Valve developer Yoshi, this rapid pace hindered internal iteration and prevented sufficient time for changes to settle before the next update.

Deadlock, a free-to-play MOBA-style hero shooter, launched on Steam earlier in 2024 after initial gameplay leaks. It has quickly gained traction, despite competing with established titles like Marvel Rivals. Its unique steampunk aesthetic and polished gameplay have contributed to its success. The game currently boasts 22 playable characters, plus eight additional heroes in its Hero Labs mode. A distinctive anti-cheat system further sets it apart.

The recent winter update showcased a shift towards more unique, event-driven content, hinting at the future direction of Deadlock's updates. While a fixed schedule is being abandoned, Valve confirms that major patches will be larger and more spaced out, with hotfixes still deployed as needed.

No official release date has been confirmed, but further news and larger updates are anticipated in 2025. The change in the update cadence suggests a focus on significant content drops and potentially more limited-time events, maintaining player engagement while streamlining the development process.