Amid an online decline, Valve changes the development flow for Deadlock

Deadlock, Valve's MOBA-shooter, has seen a significant player decline, with peak online counts now hovering around 18,000-20,000, a far cry from its initial peak exceeding 170,000. In response to this, Valve has announced a strategic shift in its development approach.

The previously bi-weekly update schedule is being scrapped in favor of a more flexible, less rigid timeline. This change, according to a developer, will allow for more substantial and thoroughly tested updates, improving the overall development process. While major updates will no longer adhere to a fixed schedule, regular hotfixes will continue to address urgent issues.

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The developers acknowledged that the previous two-week cycle, while beneficial, didn't allow sufficient time for implemented changes to fully stabilize and function optimally. This prompted the decision to adopt a more adaptable strategy.

Despite the player drop-off, Valve maintains that Deadlock is not in jeopardy. The game is still in its early access phase, and a release date remains unannounced. Considering the game's early development stage and the potential prioritization of the seemingly greenlit new Half-Life title, a release in the near future seems unlikely.

Valve's focus remains on delivering a high-quality product, prioritizing player satisfaction over rapid updates. The company believes that a polished game will naturally attract and retain players, generating revenue organically. This approach mirrors the evolution of Dota 2, which also transitioned from frequent updates to a more refined development cycle. Therefore, the change in Deadlock's update schedule shouldn't be interpreted as a negative sign.