MOBA
Ongoing coverage on MOBA.
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Deadlock isn't a MOBA or a third-person shooter anymore—City Never Sleeps has turned it into a horror game
The article argues that Valve's Deadlock has transformed into a horror game following its 'City Never Sleeps' update, despite its MOBA and third-person shooter roots. The author recounts terrifying encounters with new characters like the Rat King and Abrams, highlighting how unpredictable player actions and new mechanics create a frightening experience.
March of Giants' Creative Director knows the MOBA market is ruthless, but he believes he can replicate his Rainbow Six Siege success
Ubisoft Montreal's Creative Director Xavier Marquis believes March of Giants can succeed in the competitive MOBA market by offering a unique blend of real-time strategy and MOBA elements, drawing parallels to the success of Rainbow Six Siege. Despite acknowledging the market's ruthlessness and the failures of past competitors, Marquis and his team are driven by a passion to innovate and create a game they themselves would want to play.
New League Classic update brings back "one of the worst-designed spells in League of Legends"
League of Legends Classic patch 5 introduces five reworked champions: Aatrox, Irelia, Karma, Quinn, and Caitlyn, with Game Designer David 'Phreak' Turley overseeing the quality of these classic iterations. Karma's 'Spirit Bond' ability is highlighted as particularly awkward and "one of the worst-designed spells" by Turley. The patch also includes balance adjustments with nerfs to Graves, Fizz, and Fiora, and buffs to Nautilus and Kennen.
Deadlock is the king of MOBA character designs, and it's all thanks to Valve's embrace of New Yorkyness
Valve's upcoming MOBA, Deadlock, is praised for its unique character designs that draw heavily from New York City archetypes, setting it apart from other MOBAs like Dota 2 and Heroes of the Storm. The game's embrace of specific cultural elements and its original narrative potential are highlighted as key strengths, fostering strong community enthusiasm.
Deadlock's Rat King is Valve's monstrous answer to over a year of community jokes
Valve has introduced the Rat King as the first new hero for its in-development MOBA, Deadlock. This character's arrival fulfills over a year of community desire, stemming from a fan concept that gained significant traction. The Rat King is designed as a frontline tank with abilities focused on lifesteal, area-of-effect damage, and teamfight initiation.
Evening Reading - October 2, 2026
This Friday reading covers a variety of gaming news including updates on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Monster Hunter Wilds. It also touches on the cancellation of PUBG's Black Budget, Deadlock's Rat King, and Team Fortress 2's Scream Fortress event. Additionally, there are mentions of game deals, a review of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and updates for World of Warcraft and Marvel Snap.
Ubisoft’s MOBA March of Giants schedules a playtest October 7 as it discusses its vision for the game
Ubisoft's upcoming MOBA, March of Giants, developed by Massive Entertainment, will host an open playtest on Steam from October 7th to October 18th for players in North America and supported European countries. The playtest will feature a "pioneer program" rewarding participants with in-game unlocks. Developers also shared insights into the game's design, inspired by World War I industrialization, and detailed recent gameplay mechanic updates.
March of Giants Might Actually Get You to Play a MOBA Besides Dota 2 and League | IGN Preview
March of Giants aims to challenge established MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2 by incorporating lessons learned from Rainbow Six Siege's success. The game plans to retain core MOBA mechanics such as complex itemization and last hitting while offering modern accessibility features.
The Division developers Massive are now "the global brand" in charge of Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, alongside a new Ubisoft dieselpunk MOBA
Ubisoft has announced a significant restructuring, designating Massive Entertainment as the global label responsible for the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon franchises, as well as the new MOBA March of Giants. This move is part of a broader reorganization following a large investment from Tencent, which has led to layoffs and the creation of dedicated 'creative houses' for major brands. While the Splinter Cell remake and a new Ghost Recon are confirmed, the impact on affected development teams remains unclear.
Valve says Deadlock is still too unfinished to release publicly, but has hero cosmetics and new game modes in the works
Valve has stated that Deadlock, its invite-only MOBA, is still too unfinished for a public release despite recent updates and new content. The company is focusing on parallel development across various aspects of the game, including progression and hero customizations, and is experimenting with speculative features like new game modes and item redesigns. Valve emphasizes the difficulty of multiplayer game development and the importance of player feedback in shaping the game before a wider launch.
It's not even out yet, but Valve's Deadlock just became one of the most played games on Steam
Valve's unreleased MOBA, Deadlock, has seen a significant surge in concurrent players on Steam following its 'City Never Sleeps' update. The update introduced a revamped map, new heroes, and numerous quality-of-life improvements, propelling the game to its highest player count yet. Despite not having a full release date, the game's ongoing development and community engagement suggest strong potential.
After an eight month wait, Valve's massive Deadlock update feels like the spark that begins its unstoppable rise
Valve has released a massive 'City Never Sleeps' update for its MOBA, Deadlock, significantly overhauling visuals, map design, and introducing six new heroes over the next three weeks. The update has already broken concurrent player records, transforming the game from a beta state to feeling much more complete and poised for success.
You're hyped for Deadlock's new heroes and map updates, I'm hyped because of the 800 extra pre-match…
The author expresses excitement for the recent Deadlock update, particularly highlighting the significant increase in pre-match voice lines and the addition of new heroes and environments. While acknowledging the MOBA genre's difficulty in attracting players, the focus on charming characters and detailed voice interactions suggests a positive outlook for the game's appeal.
Huge Deadlock Update Propels Valve's MOBA Hero Shooter to the Top of the Steam Charts, Smashes Peak Concurrent Player Record
Valve's MOBA hero shooter Deadlock has reached the top of Steam's most-played games chart following a significant update. This update also propelled the game to smash its previous peak concurrent player record.
Deadlock gets six new heroes as part of City Never Sleeps major update
Valve has released a major update for Deadlock titled 'City Never Sleeps,' which includes significant changes to the New York City map with new visuals and 'Haunts' in its lanes and back alleys. The update also introduces a new merchant called the Broker, six new heroes, and various visual improvements to elements like healthbars and the event feed.
Deadlock's gigantic new update gives its city a spooky new coat of paint and debuts 6 new heroes, including the one…
Valve's MOBA Deadlock has received its 'City Never Sleeps' update, introducing a significantly redecorated map with three distinct themes and six new heroes that will be released weekly via a player voting system. The update also includes numerous gameplay tweaks, improved UI elements, enhanced accessibility options, and new practice tools, though the game remains in invite-only access.
Xal’atath officially floats her way into Heroes of the Storm’s roster
Xal'atath has officially joined the Heroes of the Storm roster as a new playable character, marking the first addition in six years. The ranged assassin utilizes void attacks, short-distance blinks, and abilities that summon minions or channel damaging orbs. The latest patch also includes balance adjustments, map changes, and bug fixes, with developers confirming more heroes are planned after focusing on game sustainability.
The eyes of Valve's creepy portrait are glowing again
Valve is preparing to release a major content update for its game Deadlock, indicated by a glowing portrait in the game's hub. This follows a previous update that significantly improved the game. A developer confirmed the update is planned for early next week, though details remain scarce.
I still can't believe we call them 'MOBAs'
This opinion piece discusses the problematic nature of the term 'MOBA' and the media's role in coining and perpetuating game genre names. It references past attempts to rename the genre, such as 'wizard-'em-up' and 'lane-pushing game,' and highlights the challenges in finding accurate and appealing terminology.
Pokemon Unite Offers Free Toxtricity To Trainers
Pokemon Unite players can claim a free Toxtricity license by logging into the game between September 24, 2026, and September 25, 2027. This special login bonus commemorates the game's 100th entry. Toxtricity is described as a versatile dual-type ranged attacker with damage-over-time and crowd control abilities.
