Access status#
- Access
- Invite-only. Existing players invite their Steam friends.
- Steam store says
- “Access to Deadlock is currently limited to friend invites via our playtesters.”
- Release date
- To be announced. The game is in early development.
- Platform
- Windows PC, through Steam.
We check this status every week and the date above changes when we do. If Valve opens access or announces a release date, this page is rewritten the same day. For the wider picture, see Deadlock release date and beta status.
We can’t send you an invite
This is an independent information site. We don’t hand out, sell or raffle invites, and we don’t run an invite queue. Invites come only from people who already play, through Steam.
How Deadlock invites work#
There is no public sign-up page, waitlist form or code shop. A player who already has the game sends an invite to someone on their Steam friends list, and the game is then added to that person’s Steam account.
That has two practical consequences:
- You need to be Steam friends with a player first. An invite can’t be sent to a stranger’s email address.
- “Invite codes” for sale are a red flag. Because invites travel between Steam friends, a code or key sold by a third party is at best unnecessary and at worst a way to take your money or your Steam login. Never share your Steam password to “receive” an invite.
Step by step: how to get invited#
- Find someone who plays. Check whether anyone on your Steam friends list already has Deadlock. If not, Deadlock Discord communities and the r/DeadlockTheGame subreddit run invite threads where players offer to add people.
- Become Steam friends. Send or accept a friend request on Steam. The invite can only reach you once you are friends.
- Ask them to send the invite from inside the game or Steam — see the next section for the sender’s side.
- Accept it on Steam. Where the invite appears for the recipient (notification, library or both) is being captured with screenshots during a live test. Pending in-game verification
Be careful in public invite threads
Only accept friend requests from people you’re comfortable having on your list, and ignore anyone who asks for payment, a trade or your account details in return.
Step by step: how to invite a friend#
If you already play, you can bring friends in yourself. They must be on your Steam friends list first.
The exact menu path and button labels for sending an invite, and any limits on how many invites you can send or how often, are being verified in the current client with two test accounts before we publish them here. Pending in-game verification
After you accept: download and first launch#
Once the invite is accepted, Deadlock appears in the recipient’s Steam library and installs like any other Steam game. The current download size will be added after we measure it on a fresh install. Pending in-game verification
Before your first match, two pages will save you time:
- Best Deadlock settings for FPS — set up graphics and launch options first.
- How to play Deadlock — what a match looks like and what to do in your first games.
Invite not showing up? Things to check#
These are general Steam checks that cost nothing to try. Deadlock-specific fixes are only added here once we have reproduced or sourced them.
- Confirm you and the sender are actually Steam friends (not just a pending request).
- Restart the Steam client fully — exit it from the system tray, not just the window.
- Look through your Steam library with any filters cleared, including hidden games.
- Make sure you are signed in to the same Steam account the sender added.
Whether limited (no-purchase) Steam accounts can receive invites, and how long invites normally take to arrive, are still being checked. We won’t repeat the unsourced “one to two days” claim you’ll see elsewhere. Pending in-game verification
Already installed but the game won’t start? That’s a different problem — see Deadlock not launching or crashing.
FAQ#
Is Deadlock still invite-only?
Yes. As of our last check on 26 Oct 2026, Valve’s Steam page says access is limited to friend invites from playtesters, and the release date is “To be announced”.
How long does a Deadlock invite take to arrive?
We haven’t yet measured this ourselves and won’t repeat unsourced estimates. This answer will be updated after our live test.
Where do I accept the invite on Steam?
Being verified with screenshots in the current Steam client. Until then, check your Steam notifications and your library.
Why is my invite not showing up?
Most often the two accounts aren’t Steam friends yet, or Steam needs a full restart. See the checklist above.
Can you get Deadlock without an invite?
Not at the moment. Valve’s Steam page lists friend invites as the only way in.
Are Deadlock invite codes real?
Invites are sent between Steam friends, so you don’t need a code. Treat anyone selling codes or keys with caution, and never give out your Steam login.
Is Deadlock free?
Receiving an invite from a friend doesn’t involve a purchase. Valve hasn’t announced how the game will be priced at release; we’ll add that here when it does.
Can a limited Steam account receive an invite?
Not yet verified. We’re testing this before answering.