Valve’s New MOBA, Deadlock, Drops Playtest Time Restrictions and Introduces Key Changes
Deadlock, Valve’s up-and-coming MOBA, made a major shift by removing time restrictions on its playtest sessions. Since the start of its beta phase, players were limited to specific hours—typically between 1 pm and 3 am on weekdays, and 9 am to 3 am on weekends (local time). This schedule had been a sore spot for many, particularly those wanting to sneak in early matches. However, with this latest update, matchmaking is now available 24/7 across all regions, allowing players to jump into the action anytime.
This change has been widely welcomed, as inconvenient time slots no longer bind players. The patch notes were brief but clear: “Matchmaking is now open 24/7 for all regions.” In classic Valve fashion, the in-game server status window reads simply “Status:”, leaving the current state of Deadlock up to interpretation—likely a subtle nod to the game’s ongoing development.
Other Key Updates
- New Minimap Design: While it might seem minor, the redesign of Deadlock‘s minimap is a notable change for those who spend a lot of time staring at it while navigating the battlefield. The map now features a more visually pleasing backdrop and highlights neutral creep camps with a glowing effect around their respective buildings. Though some players, like those in bot matches, haven’t fully experienced these enhancements yet, it’s a quality-of-life upgrade that should improve map awareness and tactical play.
- Low-Priority Queue: Like Dota 2, Deadlock now has a low-priority queue for players who abandon games or display toxic behavior. This system penalizes disruptive players by placing them in a queue with others who have earned similar penalties, where they must complete a few games before rejoining the main matchmaking pool. Interestingly, false reporting or frequent misreporting of players can also land you in the low-priority queue, stripping you of your reporting privileges. It’s a solid step toward keeping the community respectful and fair.
- Flex Slot Changes: Previously, players could unlock their first flex slot—used to store Weapon, Vitality, or Spirit items—after killing the first enemy Walker. Now, this unlock happens after taking down the second Walker, slightly slowing down the power curve for aggressive teams. This change should help balance the game’s tempo, preventing early snowballing, although gathering enough Souls to fully utilize the flex slot early is still a rare occurrence.
What’s Next?
Deadlock is still very much in its early stages, with frequent updates and changes coming as Valve fine-tunes the experience. The latest patch includes a host of balance tweaks and adjustments, but for a complete breakdown, players can refer to Valve’s official forums for the exhaustive patch notes.
And for those holding out hope, there’s still no sign of Slork—yet. But with the pace of development, anything could be around the corner.
