Valve has launched its most significant update for the MOBA-shooter hybrid Deadlock, introducing six new playable characters, a high-octane game mode, and a massive overhaul of post-game mechanics.
A Massive Roster Expansion
While Deadlock has been in Steam beta for over a year, the “Old Gods, New Blood” update marks a major turning point in development. The update promises to roll out six distinct heroes over the next three weeks: the werewolf-inspired Silver, the necromancer Graves, the unicorn-horned performer Celeste, the weapons specialist Venator, the sword-master Apollo, and the fan-favorite Rem—a unique creature blending rat and lemur aesthetics, complete with pajamas.
Valve has confirmed a staggered release schedule starting January 26, with two new heroes arriving weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. Players will influence the order of these releases through a voting system, where additional votes are earned simply by playing the game.
Introducing Street Brawl
The update also debuts “Street Brawl,” a fast-paced game mode designed for shorter play sessions. This four-vs-four, best-of-five-rounds mode streamlines the experience by offering players a curated, randomized selection of items between each round, prioritizing quick action over long-form strategy.
Extensive Gameplay Overhauls
The “Old Gods, New Blood” patch is remarkably dense, extending far beyond new characters. Key technical and gameplay improvements include:
- World Updates: New bosses, troopers, base layouts, and underground tunnels specifically designed to accommodate smaller heroes like Rem.
- UI & Polish: Significant enhancements to visibility, including new damage numbers, kill streak indicators, and updated visibility outlines.
- Quality of Life: A new random hero button and expanded settings menu options.
- Post-Game Revamp: A complete reconstruction of end-match summaries and a new MVP scoring system to better highlight player contributions.
The momentum behind Deadlock continues to build, with industry veterans like former FPS pro Shroud recently labeling the title as “one of the best games ever made,” suggesting that its current trajectory points toward significant mainstream success.
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