[Rumor] Valve’s Next Game Isn’t Half-Life 3, But A Multiplayer Shooter Called Deadlock

So much for counting to three.

Valve, the owners of digital store platform Steam and the Half-Life/Left 4 Dead/Dota 2 brand, will be working on a new 6v6 multiplayer PvP shooter. It’s called Deadlock and screenshots of it have allegedly been leaked out.

According to playtesters, Deadlock is a 6v6 title where players fight on huge maps with 4 lanes, with heroes having abilities and able to use items on the map. The game will have a tower defense mechanic, and its world is a mix of fantasy and steampunk, featuring magicians, robots, and weird creatures. The game will also feature fast travel in the form of rails ala Bioshock Infinite.

The game’s hero design is inspired by the Dota universe. From the looks of the alleged screenshots (via Gabe Follower on Twitter), we’re getting Battleborn vibes here. That’s not a good thing.

Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here's ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz

— ?Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024

Enjoying watching everyone hating on 4 badly compressed screenshots of a closed alpha game, while 100% certain they'll be stepping on each other's throats to play it https://t.co/DcImRJSDXh

— garry (@garrynewman) May 17, 2024

For now, take all of this with a grain of salt until Valve makes an official announcement. The company’s track record with new multiplayer games hasn’t been the best: remember Artifact and Dota Underlords? Us either.