Currently, Valve is best known for being behind one of the biggest PC marketplaces: Steam. However, it is also remembered for having many iconic franchises under its belt, such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, and Left 4 Dead. Although it has gradually moved away from game development, it seems to be preparing a new multiplayer experience.
In May 2024, rumors began to circulate about Deadlock, a new online title that combines hero shooter mechanics with typical MOBA elements. Images and videos began appearing on social media and forums, showing this proposal in action, and it is said to feature 19 playable characters and a futuristic Steampunk style.
Despite trademark registration in June, Valve has yet to officially confirm the existence of this new project. That said, reports indicate that they have conducted limited testing with professional players and other personalities. Now, it seems that more people have had the opportunity to try it out.
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Deadlock, Valve’s new game, surpasses 10,000 concurrent users on Steam
Although Deadlock is not yet official, it already has a profile on SteamDB, a database that tracks the number of connected players, price history, and other interesting data about games hosted on Valves platform.
According to the information, this multiplayer proposal has seen an increase in its user base over the past week. Specifically, it surpassed the 10,000 concurrent user mark and recorded a peak of 12,008 simultaneous players on PC on August 10.
Reports indicate that the supposed Deadlock test was much smaller initially, as the game barely reached 2,000 concurrent users. Thus, the recent increase suggests that more people have had access and were able to join the action.
These are surprising numbers, especially considering it is a project that hasn’t been officially revealed to the public yet. For perspective, its worth noting that Concord, the controversial multiplayer FPS from PlayStation and Firewalk Studios, only reached 2,388 simultaneous players during its open Beta at the end of July.
At this point, Deadlock seems to be one of the companys worst-kept secrets. It is said to still be in an early stage of development, featuring experimental mechanics and placeholder art. Thus, its reveal and launch could be quite far off.
This news comes shortly after an actress accidentally revealed the supposed existence of Half-Life 3, one of the most anticipated games in history. That said, Valve has yet to confirm the development of either of these games.
But tell us, what do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments.
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