Deadlock, Valve's MOBA-shooter, has seen a significant player decline, with peak online counts now under 20,000. In response, Valve has announced a revised development strategy.
The rigid bi-weekly update schedule is being scrapped in favor of a more flexible approach. Future updates will be less frequent but more substantial, allowing for thorough testing and implementation, according to a developer. Regular hotfixes will continue to address urgent issues.
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The previous two-week update cycle, while initially beneficial, proved too rushed for optimal integration of changes. This shift follows a dramatic drop in player numbers from over 170,000 at its peak to a current 18,000-20,000.
Despite the player count decrease, Valve assures fans that the game isn't in jeopardy. Deadlock remains in early access, with no release date set. The focus is on quality, not speed, prioritizing a polished product over a rushed launch. The developer's statement suggests this change mirrors the development path of Dota 2, indicating a long-term commitment to the game's success. The potential development of a new Half-Life game may also influence the current pace of Deadlock's development.