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. A developer stated that this change allows for more thorough development, resulting in more substantial updates. However, hotfixes will continue to be released as needed.
Image: discord.gg
The previous bi-weekly update cycle, while helpful, proved insufficient for proper implementation and testing of changes. This prompted the strategic shift.
Deadlock's peak player count once surpassed 170,000 on Steam, but has plummeted to 18,000-20,000 daily players by early 2025.
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 Valve's apparent focus on the internally approved new Half-Life project.
Valve's prioritizing quality over speed, believing a superior product will naturally attract players and revenue. The adjusted schedule primarily benefits the developers' workflow, mirroring the evolution of Dota 2's update process. Therefore, there's no immediate cause for alarm.
