Deadlock
MOBA + 3RD-PERSON SHOOTER HYBRID (2024, invite-only alpha; open beta 2025) by VALVE — creators of DOTA 2, TEAM FORTRESS 2, COUNTER-STRIKE. 6v6 hero-based team battles combining MOBA lanes + jungling + item shopping with tight 3rd-person shooter combat. 20+ heroes with unique abilities. INVITE-ONLY playtest with 60k+ concurrent Steam players; rapidly rising as Valve's next major esport. Free-to-play planned. Not yet a formal esport but community tournaments emerging.
Quick facts
Category
Esports
Type
Team sport
Players
6–12
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
2024 invite-only alpha (May 2024); open beta 2025+ planned
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Destroy enemy team's PATRON (base structure) by pushing through 4 lanes + jungling.
Rules
Basic rules
6 heroes per team; 4 lanes + jungle
Distinctive 4-lane structure (vs typical 3).
3rd-person over-the-shoulder shooter combat
Shooter-first MOBA.
20+ heroes each with 4 unique abilities + ultimate
Hero variety.
Item shop system: buy modules to upgrade abilities + stats
MOBA item economy.
Farm creeps + gank enemies + secure Souls (currency)
MOBA farming + PvP.
Push into enemy base + destroy Guardians + Walkers + Shrines + finally Patron
Objective structure.
Scoring
Not yet formally competitive; community tournaments emerging; Valve pro circuit anticipated.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Rank progression (planned) | Standard Valve ladder system |
| Community tournaments | Emerging scene |
| Steam concurrent players | 60k+ during alpha |
Win condition · Destroy enemy Patron.
Equipment
PC (Windows), Mac
Valve platforms; Steam-only
M/KB (recommended) or controller
Full support for both
Free-to-play (planned public release)
Signature Valve model
Terminology
- Patron
- Team's base structure — destroy to win.
- Guardians
- First-tier lane defense turrets.
- Walker
- Second-tier lane defense structure.
- Shrines
- Third-tier defense before Patron.
- Souls
- Currency earned from creeps + heroes.
- Sinner's Sacrifice
- Iconic mid-lane objective.
- Modules
- Items purchased from shop.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Valve (developer + publisher)
Founded 1996 · Bellevue, Washington, USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Valve executives + community moderators
- Emerging pro players from Dota 2, CS2, Overwatch backgrounds
- Nothing formally established as of 2026 (game still in beta)
Frequently asked
Deadlock vs Dota 2 vs Overwatch?+
DEADLOCK is Valve's HYBRID between the two. From DOTA 2: 6v6 (adapted from 5v5), lane structure, item shopping, hero abilities, MOBA macro. From OVERWATCH / TEAM FORTRESS 2: 3rd-person over-the-shoulder shooter combat, real-time aim skill, hero-based abilities. Result: a genuinely novel MOBA-shooter hybrid that requires BOTH mechanical aim + MOBA game-sense. Whether it succeeds long-term depends on Valve's roadmap + esports investment; the alpha's 60k+ concurrent players (invite-only) is a promising signal.
How do I get into Deadlock alpha?+
During 2024-25 alpha, access is INVITE-ONLY — existing players can invite others via Steam friends. Valve intended to open the game publicly in 2025+. Watch Steam + community forums for open beta announcement.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Deadlock— Wikipedia