Valve is that rare developer that defies gaming to become a sort of mythical force, but while we’re still waiting for Half-Life 3, Deadlock is getting plenty of momentum.
- The Escapist recaps
- What is Deadlock?
- How can you gain access to Deadlock?
- What is the Old Gods, New Blood update?
- Ask The Escapist
- References
A team-based multiplayer title, it’s a fresh take on the genre that plenty of people are already playing – despite the fact that it’s not technically out yet. Confused? Fear not – here’s all you need to know about Deadlock’s early access.
The Escapist recaps
- Deadlock is Valve’s upcoming multiplayer game, but it’s in Early Access.
- You can play it now, but it requires the use of an invitation system.
- At the time of writing, there’s no full release date for Deadlock.
What is Deadlock?
I’m glad you asked. Deadlock is, in essence, a blend of two genres Valve knows very well, drawing from MOBAs like DOTA 2 and hero shooters like Team Fortress 2.
After leaking in 2024, it’s become something of an open secret, and you can see gameplay footage just about anywhere you look online.
Two teams of six work to destroy an enemy ‘Patron’, with a third-person shooter setup across multiple MOBA-like lanes with their own defences.
Players use items to buff their attributes, while each character has their own abilities. There’s a zipline system, too, to make it easier to get back to the fight.
How can you gain access to Deadlock?
At the time of writing, Deadlock is restricted to invite-only playtesting. As per the game’s Steam page, “Deadlock is in early development with lots of temporary art and experimental gameplay. Access is currently limited to friend invites via our playtesters.”
The good news is that if you know someone playing, they can fire you an invite so you can check it out. It’s a little bit like a secret handshake at the moment, but people seem to be really enjoying it.
What is the Old Gods, New Blood update?
Launched in January 2026, Old Gods, New Blood is the latest update to Deadlock. It introduces a new Street Brawl mode with a shorter game format and streamlined item options, with the option to drop a piano on a foe’s head.
Valve has added six new characters: Apollo, Celeste, Graves, Silver, Rem, and Venator. Two heroes launch each week, starting January 26, with player votes determining the order. They’ll then debut on Mondays and Thursdays at 2 PM PST.
Two new items have been added:
- Ballistic Enchantment
Imbue an ability with increased range. Dealing damage with that ability grants you increased weapon damage per target hit.
- Recharging Rush
Dealing significant Weapon Damage replenishes a charge for each of your charged abilities.
There’s now a Postgame score page, too, as well as an MVP system, various tweaks like custom channel bars for channeled abilities, a damage impact indicator, and damage numbers.
Ask The Escapist
Yep, you can play Deadlock for free – but you’ll need that all-important Steam invite from a friend already playing to be able to jump in.
Given it’s not even out yet, the new update has pushed Deadlock to a 24-hour peak at Steam Charts of over 67,000 players. Its all-time peak, however, was over 171,000.
You’ll need a Steam account, as well as a friend already playing. They can invite you to join the playtest, but at the time of writing, there’s no other way to check the game out.
Last Updated On: Jan 23, 2026 4:18 pm CET