Amid an online decline, Valve changes the development flow for Deadlock

Deadlock, Valve's MOBA-shooter, is undergoing a development shift in response to a significant player decline. The game's peak concurrent player count has plummeted from over 170,000 to a mere 18,000-20,000. To address this, Valve is abandoning its previous bi-weekly update schedule.

Image: discord.gg

Future updates will be released on a flexible, less frequent basis. This change, according to developers, will allow for more thorough testing and implementation of improvements, resulting in more substantial updates overall. Regular hotfixes will still be deployed as needed.

The developers clarified that the previous two-week update cycle, while beneficial initially, proved too rushed to ensure the stability and effectiveness of implemented changes. This strategic shift prioritizes quality over speed.

While the player count drop is significant, it's important to note that Deadlock remains in early access and lacks a release date. The game's future prospects aren't necessarily bleak; Valve's focus is on delivering a polished product, mirroring the approach taken with Dota 2's development evolution. The potential release of a new Half-Life game may also influence the development timeline. The company's strategy reflects a commitment to long-term success, prioritizing a high-quality experience over rapid, potentially unstable updates.