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 stream of updates, Valve assures that future updates will be more substantial and impactful, resembling major events rather than minor adjustments. The recent winter update, featuring unique gameplay changes, serves as a preview of this new approach.
Deadlock, Valve's free-to-play MOBA hero shooter, launched on Steam earlier in 2024 and has quickly gained traction, despite competition from titles 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 in Hero Labs mode, and a unique anti-cheat system.
According to Valve developer Yoshi, the previous two-week update cycle proved challenging for implementing certain changes and allowing sufficient time for player response before the next update. The new schedule will feature larger patches released on a less frequent, non-fixed schedule, supplemented by hotfixes as needed. The expectation is that this will lead to more substantial content drops and limited-time events in the future.
Although an official release date remains unconfirmed, Valve promises further Deadlock news in 2025. The shift in update frequency suggests a focus on refining the existing game experience and delivering impactful content updates.
