Deadlock
News, coverage and analysis tracking Deadlock across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Deadlock's new ranked mode is driving players mad as they try to escape the casual modes and climb back to where…
Players of Valve's MOBA Deadlock are experiencing significant frustration with the game's newly implemented ranked mode and reworked matchmaking system. Despite Valve's warnings of initial turbulence, players are struggling with high hero unlock requirements for ranked play and inconsistent rank progression, leading to widespread criticism on social media.
PlayStation and Xbox's most played games are, once again, exactly what you expect them to be
Analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that the most played games on PlayStation and Xbox remain dominated by long-running live service titles and annual sports games, with minimal changes year-over-year. Fortnite leads both platforms, followed by a familiar lineup including Roblox, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto 5, with minor variations between the console ecosystems.
Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5 Continue to Top PS5, Xbox Series X/S Most-Played Charts in the US
Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto 5 continue to dominate the most-played game charts on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the US, according to data from Circana's Mat Piscatella. The lists are largely comprised of long-running live-service titles and annual sports games, with only a few new releases like Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Shift at Midnight making brief appearances in the top 20.
The first Deadlock ranked season starts now, but you'll need to prove yourself in its "lower-stakes" mode first
The first ranked season for the hero-shooter MOBA Deadlock has begun, requiring players to achieve 60 wins in standard mode and unlock at least three heroes before they can compete. Valve has implemented a matchmaking overhaul that includes a calibration phase, rank loss protection, and the ability to swap heroes and lanes in the pre-game lobby. The developer anticipates initial queue time and quality issues due to players needing to meet unlock requirements.
Valve finally gives Deadlock a proper ranked mode, warns that matches will be 'very rocky' to start
Valve has introduced a new ranked mode for their game Deadlock, featuring a significant overhaul to matchmaking and a new ranking system with 11 tiers. Players must win 15 matches on three different heroes to qualify for ranked play. Valve warns that the initial rollout may be 'very rocky' due to a thin player pool and potential bugs.
A new Deadlock update leaves Graves and Silver gleeful, but Valve still can't get Shiv right
Valve has released a new update for the MOBA Deadlock, focusing on adjustments to objectives like the Soul Urn and Unstable Rift, as well as hero balance changes. The update aims to improve objective clarity and impact, with Graves and Silver seeing buffs while Shiv and Drifter receive nerfs. This patch continues Valve's efforts to refine the game based on community feedback.
Slay the Spire 2's creator reveals the inspiration for its most controversial foe: "I was playing too much Deadlock."
Mega Crit Co-Founder Casey Yano revealed inspirations behind Slay the Spire 2's characters, including the controversial Doormaker boss, which was influenced by playing Valve's Deadlock. Yano also explained that the fairy Ancient Nonupeipe's name is an easter egg referencing a placeholder icon, and that the Ceremonial Beast boss was inspired by Princess Mononoke's Forest Spirit and shares similarities with Valheim's Eikthyr.
Slay the Spire 2's lead birthed reviled boss Doormaker after "playing too much Deadlock," while Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke inspired another creature
Mega Crit developer Casey Yano revealed that the reviled Slay the Spire 2 boss, Doormaker, was inspired by playing Valve's hero shooter Deadlock. Another creature in the roguelike was originally based on the Forest Spirit from Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke. The newsletter also confirmed that Steam Workshop support for Slay the Spire 2 is now considered mature enough for general use.
New Deadlock update aims to stop snowballing - and it's looking like Holliday season
Valve has released a new update for Deadlock focusing on hero balance changes and addressing match snowballing. The update introduces significant buffs to Holliday, Apollo, and Calico, while Silver, Graves, and Seven receive nerfs. Key changes include adjustments to the Soul Urn mechanic, hero abilities, and comeback bounties, aiming to create a more balanced gameplay experience.
Don't let Deadlock's MOBA tag scare you off—there's a quick play mode for dummies which is the…
Despite its MOBA classification, Valve's Deadlock offers a casual 'Street Brawl' mode that is ideal for new players. This 4v4 mode simplifies mechanics, reduces match length to 15 minutes, and introduces items gradually, making it a fun and accessible entry point into the game.
Arkheron, an isometric Diablo-like battle royale where you ascend a tower, is getting a more forgiving Spire mode to…
Arkheron, an isometric PvPvE battle royale action RPG, is introducing a new 'Spire' mode to offer a more forgiving experience for players learning the game. Developer Bonfire Studios is implementing this mode based on player feedback from recent playtests, aiming to bridge the skill gap between the training and core 'Ascension' modes. The game is slated for a 2026 release.
Valve just reworked Deadlock's Soul Urn yet again, and even the item itself is ready to give up
Valve has released another update for Deadlock, focusing on significant changes to the Soul Urn item. The latest rework introduces a 'King of the Hill' style capture mechanic, immediate bounty rewards upon dropping the Urn, and a 'deadlock' condition where the Urn disperses its souls if contested for too long. These changes aim to make the Urn a more impactful comeback tool for losing teams.
Morning Patches
This article provides a roundup of recent patch notes for various games including Crimson Desert, Deadlock, Formula Legends, and HELLDIVERS 2. It also briefly mentions StarCraft.
Deadlock's Urn chaos continues as Valve steps in again following tournament drama
Valve has issued another update to the MOBA Deadlock to address ongoing issues with the Soul Urn item, which recently caused controversy in a competitive tournament match. The latest patch modifies the Urn's resistance aura and deposit mechanics to prevent exploitative strategies, following previous adjustments. Player Sobhan 'AVG' Pirasteh cited the game's experimental state as his reason for forfeiting a match due to the controversial tactic.
Valve just completely changed the Deadlock Urn again, days after its rework spawned a weekend of mayhem
Valve has released an emergency update for Deadlock, significantly altering the mechanics of the Soul Urn after a weekend of chaotic gameplay. The update moves the Urn's drop-off location, enhances the carrier's movement speed, and adjusts the 'favored' Urn mechanics and deposit timers to create a more balanced experience.
Deadlock gets hotfix update after Urn change turned mid-lane into an all-out brawl
The game Deadlock received a hotfix update following player frustration with a recent change to the Urn item. This modification had inadvertently turned the mid-lane into a highly contested area, prompting the developers to issue a quick patch to address the imbalance.
Deadlock new midlane objective turned games into such a mid-only fiasco that it only lasted one weekend, though…
Valve is experimenting with the midlane objective in Deadlock, which was temporarily changed to encourage teamfights but resulted in a "mid-only fiasco." The new urn mechanic required melee interaction, had a depositing phase, and was always placed in the midlane, leading to a shift in gameplay focus. Following player feedback, the urn now spawns in side-lanes, though some of its mechanics have been adjusted.
Saturday Patches
Several games received official updates. Deadlock received a gameplay update on May 22, 2026, Demonschool launched a significant free update, and Team Fortress 2 also released a new patch.
A new Deadlock update reworks the Urn into a more chaotic, powerful comeback engine
A new update for Valve's MOBA Deadlock introduces a significant rework to the Soul Urn item, aiming to make it a more powerful comeback mechanic. The update also includes a new Vitality item called Grit and numerous balance adjustments to heroes and other items, with a focus on encouraging early aggression and slowing down late-game base pushing.
Deadlock's latest 'small update' yet again remixes basic mechanics and rebalances most of the roster
Valve has released a small update for its MOBA Deadlock, significantly altering its comeback mechanics. The 'soul urn' now requires players to deposit it in the center of the map, initiating a channeling phase that can be interrupted by enemies. Additionally, the midboss that grants resurrection abilities now spawns at the start of the game, increasing early-game strategic options.
