Valve's MOBA hero shooter, Deadlock, remains in an exclusive, invite-only testing phase as the developers continue to refine the game. However, a recent livestream blunder has potentially unveiled the existence of a second, even more secretive playtest featuring new characters and updated designs.

The leak originated from a livestream by a prominent Deadlock player who accidentally opened the wrong build of the game on stream, as reported by Eurogamer. Screenshots captured by viewers revealed new characters such as the retro-inspired Doorman, the scholarly Bookworm, and the eerie Vampirebat, alongside visual updates for existing characters like Ivy. The streamer quickly corrected their mistake, but the information had already spread.

Reactions among the community are varied. Some members of the r/DeadlockTheGame subreddit have expressed frustration, feeling left out despite being part of the current playtest. Deadlock has undergone numerous changes, including the removal of an entire lane. Valve has previously utilized the Hero Labs mode to allow players to test new heroes, but this appears to be a separate, more exclusive approach.

Despite its limited access, Deadlock has attracted a significant player base and garnered attention from fans of both shooter games and MOBAs. A new title from Valve naturally draws interest, and the game's secretive nature and invite-only status have only heightened its allure. The revelation of an even more exclusive build adds another layer of intrigue for fans to discuss.

It's crucial to maintain perspective on the real news, as one Reddit user humorously noted: "Oh great, as if one Lash wasn't bad enough, now there are two of him!"