Deadlock's player count has plummeted, prompting Valve to revise its development strategy. The game's peak concurrent players now hover around 18,000-20,000, a significant drop from its initial high of over 170,000.
In response, Valve is abandoning its bi-weekly update schedule. Future updates will be released on a flexible timeline, prioritizing quality over frequency. A developer stated that this change allows for more thorough testing and implementation of improvements, resulting in more substantial updates overall. Regular hotfixes will still be deployed as needed.
Image: discord.gg
The developers acknowledged that the previous two-week cycle, while helpful, didn't allow sufficient time for changes to fully integrate and function optimally. This shift in approach reflects a commitment to long-term stability and player satisfaction.
While the player base decline is substantial, it doesn't necessarily signal impending doom for Deadlock. The game is still in early access, with no official release date announced. Given the early stage of development and the potential prioritization of the new Half-Life project (reportedly internally approved), a release in the near future is unlikely.
Valve's strategy emphasizes quality over speed. The company believes that a polished, enjoyable experience will organically attract and retain players, generating revenue organically. This approach mirrors the evolution of Dota 2's development cycle, which initially featured frequent updates before transitioning to a more refined process. Therefore, the change in Deadlock's update schedule shouldn't be interpreted as a negative sign.
