Summary
Multiple screenshots for the newValvehero shooterDeadlockhave been leaked online, bringing more validity to recent rumors and speculation regarding the unannounced title.Valveappears to be playtestingDeadlock, so an official reveal of the new hero shooter could potentially arrive soon.
Rumors ofDeadlockfirst appeared on May 16from content creator Gabe Follower on Twitter. According to Gabe Follower,Deadlockis being developed as a competitive third-person hero-based shooter with large four-lane maps designed for 6v6 matches. The game appears to combine elements of competing hero shooters, including Blizzard’sOverwatch 2and Riot Games’Valorant.Deadlock’ssetting is a mix of fantasy and steampunk, and the game’s maps will have grapple rails similar toBioshock Infinite.
Gabe Follower followed up on the initialDeadlockrumor by sharing screenshots of the hero shooter on Twitter, which were acquired from testers playing the new game. Theleaked screenshotsdepict a 6v6 match in one ofDeadlock’smaps with 12 unique heroes on the field, similar tothe originalOverwatchgame. One of these heroes is called Grey Talon, a bow wielder who utilizes traps and clever positioning to defeat his enemies at long ranges. Four skills are depicted next to the hero’s official artwork, but descriptions of each skill were not given in the leak. Moreover, details about the other 11 heroes shown in the playtest were not revealed.
NewDeadlockScreenshots Reinforce Initial Leaks
One of the leaked screenshots appears to show a “Get Started” tutorial menu, which provides an overview of various in-game elements such as basic controls, special moves, and match objectives. In the screenshot, the “Lanes” section is displayed with an image of the in-game map and its four lanes, lending more credence to the initial rumor. Each lane has a transit line thatDeadlockplayers can ride on toward the center of the map. As a result, players can expect heated gunfights as they navigate toward the end of each lane, just like some ofthe maps found inCounter-Strike 2.
The new screenshots show that Valve aims to enter the hero shooter space with a unique title that could rival the likes ofOverwatch 2andValorant.Deadlockwill also compete withNetEase Games’Marvel Rivals, which is also a competitive third-person hero shooter. Competition in this genre could push the developers of each title to innovate and bring new ideas to the table. Valve has yet to officially revealDeadlock, so fans will still need to keep their expectations in check regarding future leaks.
