Valve's Mysterious MOBA Shooter, Deadlock, Emerges on Steam

After a period of intense speculation fueled by leaks, Valve's highly anticipated MOBA shooter, Deadlock, finally has a Steam page. This article delves into the game's recent beta success, its unique gameplay mechanics, and the controversy surrounding Valve's seemingly inconsistent application of its own Steam store guidelines.

Deadlock's Beta Breaks Records

Valve's official announcement confirmed Deadlock's existence and launched its Steam store page. The closed beta recently reached a peak of 89,203 concurrent players, significantly surpassing the previous high of 44,512. This surge in popularity underscores the anticipation surrounding Valve's foray into the MOBA shooter genre. While previously cloaked in secrecy, Valve has now relaxed restrictions, allowing streaming and open discussion of the game. However, it's important to note that Deadlock remains invite-only and is still in its early stages of development, featuring placeholder art and experimental elements.

A Unique Blend of MOBA and Shooter Mechanics

Deadlock blends MOBA and shooter gameplay in a 6v6 format reminiscent of Overwatch. Teams battle for control, pushing back opponents while managing squads of AI-controlled units across multiple lanes. This creates a dynamic battlefield where both player-controlled heroes and AI allies are crucial. Fast-paced combat demands players to balance leading their troops with direct engagement. Frequent respawns, wave-based battles, and strategic use of abilities and upgrades define the gameplay. Movement options like sliding, dashing, and zip-lining add a layer of tactical depth. The game features 20 unique heroes, each with distinctive abilities and playstyles, promoting diverse team compositions.

Valve's Steam Store Standards Under Scrutiny

Interestingly, Deadlock's Steam page deviates from Valve's own store guidelines. While the platform typically requires at least five screenshots, Deadlock currently only features a single teaser video. This inconsistency has drawn criticism, with some arguing that Valve, as a Steamworks partner, should adhere to the same standards it sets for other developers. This situation echoes past controversies, highlighting the complexities of a company acting as both developer and platform owner. The implications of this discrepancy on the fairness and consistency of Steam's policies remain a topic of debate.

The Future of Deadlock

As Deadlock progresses through its development and testing phases, the outcome of this controversy, and Valve's response to it, remains uncertain. The game's unique gameplay and the high level of interest generated by its beta suggest a promising future, but the questions surrounding Valve's approach to its own platform rules continue to linger.