Amid an online decline, Valve changes the development flow for Deadlock

Deadlock's player base has significantly shrunk, with peak online numbers now under 20,000. In response, Valve is altering its development approach.

Major updates will no longer follow a fixed bi-weekly schedule. Instead, updates will be released as needed, allowing for more thorough development and higher-quality releases, a developer stated. Regular hotfixes will continue.

Image: discord.gg

The previous bi-weekly update cycle, while helpful, proved insufficient for proper implementation and testing of changes. This prompted the shift in strategy.

Deadlock's player count has plummeted from over 170,000 at its peak to a current 18,000-20,000.

However, this doesn't signal the game's demise. Still in early development with no release date, a launch this year or next is unlikely, especially considering the apparent internal approval for a new Half-Life game.

Valve's focus remains on quality over speed. The belief is that a superior product will naturally attract players and revenue. This adjusted development pace mirrors Dota 2's evolution, further suggesting this is a strategic, not a crisis-driven, decision. There's no reason for alarm.