The short answer#
Deadlock is a multiplayer game from Valve that mixes a third-person hero shooter with the rules of a MOBA. Two teams of six heroes fight across three lanes of a city, push waves of troopers, destroy the other side’s defences and win by killing the enemy Patron.
- Developer
- Valve
- Genre
- Hero shooter / MOBA hybrid
- Platform
- Windows PC, via Steam
- Status
- Invite-only, in early development; release date to be announced
- Heroes
- 44
How a match plays#
Each team defends a chain of structures in every lane — Guardians, then Walkers — and, inside its base, Base Guardians, two Shrines and the Patron. You earn souls from troopers, neutral camps, kills and objectives, then spend them on items from three categories: Weapon, Vitality and Spirit.
Unlike most MOBAs, you aim and shoot yourself, and movement — sliding, dashing, zip lines and melee with parries — is a big part of the skill.
The full walkthrough is in how to play Deadlock.
Game modes#
- Standard — 6v6 across three lanes.
- Ranked — added 30 Jul 2026, unlocked after 60 Standard wins and 15 wins on each of 3 heroes. See the ranked guide.
- Street Brawl — 4v4 on a single lane with an item draft, added January 2026.
Recent milestones#
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | Street Brawl mode added. |
| 30 Jul 2026 | Ranked Mode added; Ranked Beta Season 1 begins. |
| 29 Sep 2026 | City Never Sleeps update: six new heroes unlocked over time by vote, a map overhaul, the Broker with corrupted items and a Cursed Item Shop. |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Nurse Harrow released. |
| 30 Oct 2026 | Halloween 2026 + Gameplay Update: Halloween event, Midboss rework and wide balance changes. |
| 5 Nov 2026 | Ranked Beta Season 1 scheduled to end (14:00 PDT). |
Can I play it?#
Only with an invite from a friend who already plays. Valve’s Steam page says access is limited to friend invites from playtesters. We explain the process — and how to avoid invite scams — in how Deadlock invites work.
FAQ#
Who makes Deadlock?
Valve.
Is Deadlock out?
It’s playable by invite but hasn’t been released; the release date is to be announced.
What platforms is Deadlock on?
Windows PC through Steam, as of 26 Oct 2026.
How many heroes are in Deadlock?
44 as of 26 Oct 2026.