Deadlock's 2025 Update Schedule: Fewer, Bigger Patches
Valve has announced a shift in its update strategy for Deadlock in 2025, prioritizing larger, less frequent patches over the consistent bi-weekly updates of 2024. This decision, communicated via the official Deadlock Discord, aims to streamline the development process and allow more time for internal iteration and external player feedback.
While this news may disappoint some players accustomed to the constant influx of content, Valve assures that future updates will be more substantial and impactful, resembling in-game events rather than minor adjustments. The recent winter update, featuring unique gameplay alterations, serves as a preview of this new approach.
Deadlock, Valve's free-to-play MOBA, launched on Steam earlier in 2024 and has quickly gained traction in the competitive hero-shooter market, even alongside heavyweights like Marvel Rivals. Its distinctive steampunk aesthetic and polished gameplay have contributed to its success. The game currently boasts 22 playable characters, expandable to 30 with the addition of Hero Labs characters. A unique anti-cheat system further enhances the overall player experience.
According to Valve developer Yoshi, the previous two-week update cycle proved challenging for managing internal development and allowing sufficient time for player response before the next update. The new schedule will feature major patches released on a less frequent, non-fixed schedule, supplemented by hotfixes as needed. This change is expected to result in more significant content drops and potentially increased limited-time events, similar to the winter update.
While an official release date remains unannounced, 2025 promises more substantial updates and further development for Deadlock.
