Deadlock's 2025 Update Schedule: Fewer, Bigger Patches

Valve has announced a shift in its update strategy for Deadlock in 2025, prioritizing larger, less frequent patches over the consistent, smaller updates seen in 2024. This decision, communicated via the official Deadlock Discord, stems from challenges in maintaining the previous two-week update cycle.

While this may disappoint some players anticipating constant content, Valve assures that future updates will be more substantial and impactful, resembling major events rather than minor tweaks. The recent winter update, featuring unique gameplay alterations, serves as a preview of this new approach. The change aims to allow more thorough internal iteration and sufficient time for external player feedback before subsequent updates.

Deadlock, a free-to-play third-person hero shooter with a distinct steampunk aesthetic, has quickly gained popularity since its early 2024 Steam release. Despite competition from titles like Marvel Rivals, Deadlock's polished gameplay and diverse roster of 22 playable characters (plus 8 additional heroes in Hero Labs) have solidified its position in the genre. Its innovative anti-cheat measures further contribute to its appeal.

According to Valve developer Yoshi, the new update schedule will feature larger patches released on a less frequent, non-fixed schedule. Hotfixes will continue as needed. While a formal release date remains unannounced, the expectation is for more significant Deadlock news and updates throughout 2025. The shift suggests a potential move towards a more event-driven live service model, with limited-time events and special game modes likely to supplement the larger patches.

Key Takeaways:

• Reduced Update Frequency: Deadlock updates will be less frequent in 2025.
• Larger Patch Sizes: Updates will be significantly larger and more impactful.
• Event-Driven Approach: The new strategy hints at a shift towards event-driven content releases.
• No Official Release Date: An official release date for Deadlock remains unconfirmed.