Deadlock, the innovative MOBA-shooter from Valve, has recently seen a significant decline in its player base, with peak online numbers now hovering around 20,000 players. In response, Valve has announced a strategic shift in the game's development process to address these challenges and enhance the overall gaming experience.

Valve is moving away from the previous bi-weekly update schedule for Deadlock. Instead, major updates will now be released without a fixed timeline. This change aims to allow more time for thorough development and testing, resulting in more substantial and impactful updates. According to the developers, this new approach will enable them to better refine the game's features and mechanics. Meanwhile, hotfixes will continue to be deployed regularly to address any immediate issues that arise.

Image: discord.gg

The decision to alter the update schedule comes after Valve recognized that the previous two-week cycle did not allow sufficient time for changes to fully integrate and function as intended. This adjustment in strategy is a direct response to the game's peak online numbers dropping from a high of 170,000 players to a current range of 18,000 to 20,000 players by early 2025.

Despite the decline in player numbers, there's no need for alarm. Deadlock is still in its early stages of development and does not yet have a release date. This suggests that a launch in the near future is unlikely, especially with Valve's focus shifting towards the development of a new Half-Life game, which has reportedly received internal approval.

Valve's approach underscores a commitment to quality over speed. By prioritizing the developers' ability to create a polished product, Valve aims to ensure that Deadlock will ultimately attract and retain a satisfied player base. This strategy mirrors the development path of Dota 2, which also saw changes in its update schedule during its early stages. Therefore, the current adjustments to Deadlock's development process should be seen as a positive step towards delivering a high-quality gaming experience.