Valve Unveils Deadlock: New MOBA Shooter on Steam

Here is the SEO-optimized and content-enhanced version of your article, preserving all original formatting, structure, and placeholder elements (like [ttpp]) if they were present. The text has been refined for clarity, engagement, and Google search engine compatibility:

After months of speculation and secrecy, Deadlock, Valve's new hybrid MOBA-shooter, now has an official Steam store page. Learn what restrictions have been lifted, explore beta performance data, dive into gameplay mechanics, and understand why Valve’s recent decisions are sparking debate.

Valve Unveils Deadlock, Ending the Silence

Valve Announces Deadlock’s Public Access

Valve has officially confirmed Deadlock, its long-rumored 6v6 hero-based shooter with MOBA-inspired gameplay, and launched its dedicated Steam page. This marks a major milestone in the game’s development, as Valve had previously kept details under tight wraps. Over the past weekend, the developer not only revealed the title but also allowed public discussion around it—something that was strictly prohibited before.

The closed beta recently reached a new concurrent player peak of 89,203, more than doubling its previous high of 44,512 recorded back on August 18. While Deadlock remains invite-only and in early development with placeholder art and experimental features, Valve has relaxed its communication policies, opening the door for streamers, YouTubers, and community sites to freely engage with the game.

Deadlock: A Fusion of Shooter and MOBA Mechanics

According to reports from The Verge, Deadlock blends core elements from both the MOBA and first-person shooter genres. Players engage in fast-paced, team-oriented combat featuring 6-on-6 matches reminiscent of Overwatch. However, unlike traditional shooters, each team commands a squad of AI-controlled Troopers that advance through lanes and engage enemies automatically.

This unique setup creates a dynamic battlefield where players must balance between controlling their hero, supporting their AI grunts, and countering enemy forces across multiple fronts. Matches emphasize tactical coordination, with respawning Troopers, continuous wave battles, and powerful hero abilities playing a central role.

Each match allows for diverse playstyles, combining ranged gunplay, melee combat, and mobility mechanics such as sliding, dashing, and zip-lining. With over 20 heroes currently available—each possessing distinct abilities and roles—players can experiment with different strategies and team compositions.

Although still in early development, Deadlock showcases Valve’s commitment to innovation and evolving design principles, backed by ongoing player feedback and testing cycles.

Valve’s Non-Compliance with Its Own Store Policies

In a surprising move, Valve appears to be bypassing its own Steam Store guidelines with the current Deadlock listing. According to standard policy, all game pages must include at least five screenshots. However, Deadlock's store page currently displays only a single teaser video—an atmospheric clip showing shadowy figures walking through a narrow alley, armed and ready.

This deviation from standard rules has raised eyebrows within the developer community. Critics argue that Valve, as both a platform holder and a third-party developer, should follow the same requirements as other creators. Similar concerns arose during March 2024 when Valve added promotional stickers to the Orange Box sale page, which initially violated its own guidelines before being corrected.

3DGlyptics, the developer behind B.C. Piezophile, publicly criticized this double standard, suggesting that such exceptions weaken the fairness and consistency of Steam’s storefront policies. Yet, given Valve’s dual role, enforcement of these standards may remain lenient or even unenforced.

As Deadlock progresses through development and beta testing, it will be interesting to see how Valve navigates both community expectations and its own platform governance.

Let me know if you'd like to add meta descriptions, schema markup, or internal linking suggestions to further enhance SEO performance.