Valve, known for their work on the popular Team Fortress 2, is reportedly working on a new hero shooter game called Deadlock. Development on the game started in 2018 and has gone through several name changes and design iterations.
Rumors suggest that Deadlock will be a third-person shooter with MOBA and tower defense elements set in a fantasy/steampunk world. The game will feature large maps and unique hero abilities similar to those seen in Overwatch. Currently, there are hundreds of pre-alpha testers trying out the game.
The genre of multiplayer squad-based third-person shooters has seen great success with games like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Valorant. With Valve’s experience in this genre through TF2, it’s no surprise they are jumping back in with Deadlock. Even Marvel is joining the trend with their game Marvel Rivals.
Leaked images showcase expansive environments and introduce a hero named Grey Talon, a sharpshooter character with long-range precision likely to excel at a distance.
Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz
— Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024
What can we expect from Deadlock?
The leaker, a content creator associated with Valve, also revealed, “Deadlock. Next Valve game. Previously known as Neon Prime, Citadel. Competitive third-person hero-based shooter. 6 vs 6 battles on expansive maps with 4 lanes, featuring usable abilities and items, as well as tower defense mechanics. The setting combines fantasy with steampunk, introducing magicians, strange creatures, and robots. Fast travel is facilitated by floating rails, reminiscent of Bioshock Infinite.”
Further details shared include, “Fast-paced, engaging gameplay inspired by Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, and Orcs Must Die. Heroes are designed with inspiration from the Dota universe. The main map resembles a modern steampunk European city with hints of Half-Life. Initially, the game had sci-fi elements from Half-Life and Portal, but after negative feedback, the team shifted focus to a fantasy theme.”
While some may believe that hero shooters are past their prime, the success of Apex Legends, which has generated over $3.4 billion in revenue from cosmetics alone, suggests otherwise.
If Valve can capture the excitement and enjoyable gameplay that TF2 brought to the table with Deadlock, they could have a hit on their hands. Tyler McVicker (formerly Valve News Network) speculates that we may find out for ourselves in a few months.
Featured image credit: Valve
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