Deadlock
News, coverage and analysis tracking Deadlock across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Deadlock's City Never Sleeps characters ranked
This article ranks the new characters introduced in Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update from best to worst. The author evaluates each character based on their kits, in-game performance, lore, and interactions, ultimately placing Rat King at the top and Violet at the bottom.
Half-Life 3 may actually be real as codename is accidentally mentioned by Valve
A recent slip-up by Valve composer Mike Morasky during a GameSoundCon panel has reignited rumors of a new Half-Life game, potentially codenamed HLX. While not explicitly confirmed as Half-Life 3, the mention by an employee, alongside previous references in Counter-Strike 2 updates, suggests a new Half-Life project is in development.
Half-Life 3 Speculation Rises Again as Valve Developer Accidentally Mentions its Codename – Rumor
Speculation surrounding Half-Life 3 has resurfaced after Valve developer Mike Morasky inadvertently mentioned the codename 'HLX' during a GameSoundCon panel. While the mention could be a slip-up for 'HLVR' (Half-Life: Alyx), the datamining community is investigating potential links to other Valve titles. Previous reports from late 2025 suggested the game was in final development stages.
SteelSeries Rival Pro & Sensei Pro Gaming Mouse review: Always locked in
The SteelSeries Rival Pro and Sensei Pro gaming mice offer exceptional accuracy with an 8K polling rate and lightweight, comfortable designs. While they come with a premium price tag of $179.99, their performance, modularity with swappable batteries, and SteelSeries GG companion app features justify the cost for dedicated PC gamers. A minor issue with scroll wheel responsiveness when battery is low was noted.
Why People Think Valve Just Accidentally Confirmed Half-Life 3
Valve sound designer Mike Morasky may have accidentally revealed a new Half-Life project, referred to as "HLX," during a Game Sound Con presentation. This mention, quickly followed by a colleague's remark, has fueled speculation among fans that HLX could be Half-Life 3, a game long rumored and highly anticipated.
Valve dev mentions rumored Half-Life game HLX at a presentation, coworker immediately calls him out: "Nice…
During a presentation on Valve's audio engine, designer Mike Morasky casually mentioned 'HLX,' a rumored Half-Life game, prompting a coworker to immediately call him out. This marks one of the clearest nods yet to the long-speculated title, though no official confirmation or release window was provided.
Evening Reading - October 20, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including updates for Cyberpunk 2077 and EVE Online, a potential delay for Umamusume: Pretty Derby due to immigration policies, and the announcement of a new Deadlock update. It also touches on financial news for Tesla, SpaceX, and Netflix, and mentions the potential for a 2027 Xbox handheld.
Nurse Harrow brings questionable medical practices to Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update
Valve has released Nurse Harrow, the final character for Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update. The article details her abilities, which include damaging enemies, healing herself and allies, and supporting combat. Voting statistics from the update revealed that Nurse Harrow voters had the highest win rate, and the closest vote was between Baba and Solomon.
Deadlock cracks 300,000 concurrent players following new hero release even though the game remains invite-only
The game Deadlock has surpassed 300,000 concurrent players following the release of a new hero. This milestone was achieved despite the game still being in an invite-only state.
New Deadlock hero Violet is a map-manipulating menace with powerful movement tech
Valve has introduced Violet, a new hero for their hero-shooter MOBA Deadlock, who specializes in manipulating the map with her paint-based abilities. Her kit includes Living Ink for guided attacks and creating barriers, Flow State for enhanced movement, Still Life for damage over time and debuffs, and Abstract Landscape as an ultimate ability that creates large ink walls. Violet is available now and is the fifth new character added since the City Never Sleeps update.
The artistic Violet is Deadlock City Never Sleeps' fifth voted character unlock
Violet, the artist character, has been unlocked in Deadlock City Never Sleeps as the fifth voted character. She utilizes paint-based attacks, including sketching opponents for permanent stat buffs. Nurse Harrow is the final character to be released next Tuesday.
Valve just brought back the TF2 glory days with its new Deadlock hero
Valve has released a new hero, Deadman Danny, for its game Deadlock, which has seen a surge in player count. Danny, described as a blend of characters from Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch, introduces mechanics like rocket jumping and a jetpack, enhancing mobility and combat options. This update is seen as a thematic victory for Valve, bringing back the glory days of Team Fortress 2.
Deadlock's Deadman Danny wins the fourth City Never Sleeps update character vote
Deadman Danny has won the fourth character vote for Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update, becoming available to play. The new character features a jetpack and rocket launcher, with abilities like Strix Salvo and Chimera Mk1. This marks the fourth character unlock in the update, with Nurse Harrow and Violet being the remaining characters to be voted on.
MMO Business Roundup: EU cash shop currency crackdown, Nvidia’s GPU halt, and Steam’s player numbers
This MMO industry roundup covers several key developments: the EU is investigating Activision Blizzard, Mojang, Riot Games, and Ubisoft over cash shop currency practices. Steam has set new player concurrency records, exceeding 43 million users online. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest Nvidia is halting production of the RTX 5090 GPU to prioritize AI hardware, potentially increasing prices and making the RTX 5080 the top consumer card.
Deadlock Appears to Be a Big Hit from Valve
Valve's in-development MOBA, Deadlock, has achieved a new concurrent player record of 262,145 during its invite-only playtest, surpassing Team Fortress 2's peak. This surge coincided with the addition of a new character, Solomon, who features chess-based abilities. Despite its early access and invite-only status, Deadlock is demonstrating significant player engagement.
For the second time this year, Steam has set a major new concurrent user record
Steam has once again broken its own record for concurrent users, reaching over 43.5 million players on Sunday. This marks the second time this year Valve's PC platform has set a new high, with the number of players in-game also reaching a record of over 14 million. Recent popular game launches, including Aion 2 and an update for Deadlock, contributed to the surge.
Steam hits new all-time high of over 43 million concurrent users just 7 months after its last record as Wardogs and…
Steam, Valve's digital storefront, has achieved a new all-time record with over 43 million concurrent users in October 2026, surpassing its previous record from March of the same year. This growth is attributed to the diverse game library, including live-service titles like Wardogs and Deadlock, and the increasing popularity of PC gaming.
Steam Hits New Milestone of Over 43 Million Concurrent Users
Steam, the PC-exclusive digital distribution platform, has set a new record with over 43.5 million concurrent users. This milestone surpasses its previous record set earlier this year. The platform has seen consistent growth, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdowns, with Valve's hardware efforts like the Steam Deck potentially contributing to its sustained user base.
Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update makes Valve's MOBA my favorite videogame setting in years
Valve's MOBA Deadlock, currently in beta, has received a significant update called 'City Never Sleeps' that overhauls its Cursed Apple map. The update introduces new neutral monsters and richly textured areas, transforming districts like Broadway into a neon metropolis and Greenwich into an occult-themed park. The game's new characters and expanded dialogue are also praised for their creative and inventive design, making Deadlock's setting one of the author's favorites.
Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard
Valve's new MOBA, Deadlock, has surpassed Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player peak with 262,145 simultaneous players during its invite-only test. The game's recent addition of a new hero, Solomon the chess mage, is credited with contributing to this surge. The article also touches on the challenges of breaking into the MOBA genre and Valve's approach to game development.
