Valve’s competitive shooter Deadlock has seen a sharp increase in player numbers following its latest major update, which introduced new characters, a redesigned map, and expanded community-driven features.
Since the Alpha’s launch, Deadlock has experienced significant fluctuations in player count. The game initially peaked at close to 200,000 concurrent players but dropped to around 10,000 before the most recent update. Despite this, a consistent group of dedicated players kept queues active throughout the Alpha period.
The new update, arriving roughly three months after the last major patch, has revitalised interest. Six new heroes are being rolled out over a two-week period, with three available at the time of writing.
Players are also able to vote on which character will be released next, with votes earned through playing matches. This system has been highlighted by the community as a key factor in retaining engagement.
In addition to character releases, the update introduced a completely new map, an improved UI, updated menus, and new in-game music.
The structure of matches has also been streamlined, with three lanes replacing the previous four, while an easier-to-access item system has made gameplay more approachable for returning players.
The character roster has drawn particular attention. The latest addition, The Doorman, has already been compared by fans to mechanics reminiscent of Portal, sparking further discussion online about Valve’s design influences.
The impact on player numbers has been immediate. Deadlock climbed from a peak of around 14,000 players before the update to more than 47,000 shortly afterwards, marking its strongest performance in months.
While still in Alpha, Valve appears committed to expanding Deadlock with substantial content updates and quality of life improvements as it works toward a full release.