Even before Valve has had a chance to officially announce its latest game project, “Deadlock,” a look at SteamDB data shows that the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) is already making waves. During its testing phases, “Deadlock” has racked up an impressive player count of over 10,000 active concurrent users.
The secrecy surrounding the stagnation
Despite the lack of official announcement, Deadlock’s existence was no secret. A full-length trailer for the game surfaced online in May 2024 and is still freely available today. Shortly after, former MOBA Smite pros shared their experiences during a very limited playtest in June.
The number of players is increasing.
Data from SteamDB A significant increase in player numbers is evident. Since August 2, 2024, more and more players have started testing Deadlock, with numbers peaking at 16,000 on August 11. This development marks a departure from the smaller initial playtests, which saw peaks of between 1,000 and 2,000 players.
Access Regulations and Player Comments
The new rules now allow players to add friends if they are already on their Steam friends list. This change has made playtesting easier and more accessible. Compared to other multiplayer games like Concord, which peaked at 2,300 players in its Steam open beta, Deadlock clearly has a stronger appeal.
Information leakage
A recent tweet included a disclaimer stating that Deadlock is still in the early stages of development. Despite the request not to share information, numerous screenshots and offers to lure others into the game can be found on Twitter.
What does this mean for the valve?
Leaks and player interest could put pressure on Valve to make Deadlock official sooner than planned. Meanwhile, rumors about Half-Life 3's development have surfaced, suggesting that Valve is actively working on several big projects.
Although Valve is still officially out of the public eye, Deadlock is clearly opening an exciting new chapter in the world of MOBA gaming. The player base is already strong and continues to grow, suggesting that we can expect a huge success upon official release.
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