Valve has once again caught the gaming community by surprise.
According to recent leaks from playtesters, Valve’s latest project is a multiplayer hero shooter titled Deadlock. These revelations have been circulating on social media, with some details verified by known Valve dataminer @GabeFollower.
The buzz around Deadlock began when screenshots and gameplay details started to surface online. @GabeFollower, a credible source for Valve-related news, posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon.” This post was accompanied by four intriguing screenshots.
The images allegedly from Deadlock showcase intense battles in urban environments. One character resembles the iconic Sniper from Team Fortress 2, engaging in combat on a city map that evokes memories of Half-Life 2’s City 17. Another image highlights a hero named Grey Talon, complete with weapon and ability icons, providing a glimpse into the game’s mechanics.
The Element of Surprise
Valve’s announcement of Deadlock has taken the gaming world by surprise, primarily because there were no prior indications that such a game was in development. Earlier this week, GabeFollower provided additional context about Deadlock on their X page, describing the game as having “fast-paced interesting ADHD gameplay”.
“Previously known as Neon Prime, Citadel. Competitive third person hero-based shooter. 6 vs 6 battling on huge map with 4 lanes. Usable abilities and items. Tower defense mechanics. Fantasy setting mixed with steampunk. Magicians, weird creatures and robots. Fast travel using floating rails, similar to Bioshock Infinite.”
Valve’s Game Development Journey
Although Valve is renowned for its PC publishing platform Steam and the innovative Steam Deck, the company has a rich history of game development. Last year, Valve released Counter-Strike 2, an update to the ever-popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). This update reaffirmed Valve’s commitment to maintaining and evolving its classic titles.
In 2017, Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell announced that the company was working on three “full games” for virtual reality (VR). One of these projects culminated in the critically acclaimed Half-Life: Alyx in 2020, a title that reinvigorated interest in the Half-Life franchise and showcased the potential of VR gaming.
Arya Kamandanu