Deadlock's player base has significantly shrunk, with peak online numbers now below 20,000. In response, Valve has altered its development approach.

Major updates for Deadlock will no longer follow a fixed schedule. This change, according to a developer, allows for more thorough development and will result in more substantial updates. Regular hotfixes will continue as needed.

Image: discord.gg

Previously, Deadlock received bi-weekly updates. While useful, developers found this schedule too restrictive for proper implementation of changes. This prompted the strategic shift.

Deadlock's peak player count once surpassed 170,000 on Steam, but has plummeted to 18,000-20,000 by early 2025.

However, this doesn't signal the game's demise. Still in early development with no release date, a launch this year or next is unlikely, especially given Valve's apparent focus on the internally approved new Half-Life project.

Valve's strategy prioritizes quality over speed. The belief is that a superior product will naturally attract players and revenue. The adjusted update schedule primarily benefits the development team's workflow, mirroring Dota 2's own evolutionary development process. Therefore, there's no reason for alarm.