Valve has officially unveiled Deadlock, a new hero-shooter that has been the subject of various leaks in recent months. Currently in its early development phase, access to the game is restricted to selected playtesters. Footage and screenshots from Deadlock had previously circulated online, but Valve has only now confirmed the project.
Deadlock Now Available on Steam
The announcement came through a listing on Steam over the weekend, identifying Valve as both the developer and publisher of the game. Although there is no confirmed release date for the shooter, the Steam page indicates that a “Planned Release Date: TBA.”
The listing states that “Deadlock is in early development with lots of temporary art and experimental gameplay. Access is currently limited to friend invite via our playtesters.” Interested users can now add the game to their wishlist on the storefront.
While specific details about the game remain scarce, the Steam listing includes a 20-second teaser showcasing an early development build that highlights a city block.
Shortly after the announcement, Deadlock achieved a peak concurrent player count of nearly 90,000 invited users on Steam. As of the latest updates, 32,788 players were actively engaged in the game, according to SteamDB charts.
Playtesters have indicated that Deadlock is a third-person team-based 6v6 hero shooter reminiscent of Overwatch, along with Valve’s own Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2.
This title was previously leaked earlier in May, with screenshots and gameplay information hinting at key features. Initially known as Neon Prime, the game has reportedly been in development since 2018. Deadlock features two teams of six players who compete on four-lane maps, with each character equipped with unique abilities and gear. Additional leaks have suggested that the game will feature a fantasy-steampunk setting and incorporate tower-defense mechanics.
With the launch of Deadlock, Valve marks its first new title since the introduction of Counter-Strike 2 in September 2023.
