Valve just dropped a massive update for Deadlock, the third-person MOBA shooter that's still in its invite-only beta phase. Titled "Old Gods, New Blood," this patch brings a ton of fresh content. It adds six brand-new heroes, a quick 4v4 mode, revamped Patrons with new looks and lore, plus a bunch of quality-of-life tweaks.
TL;DR
- Six new heroes added gradually via player votes
- New fast-paced 4v4 Street Brawl mode introduced
- Patrons redesigned with fresh visuals and backstory
The update rolled out around late January 2026.
Six New Heroes Join the Roster
Deadlock's hero lineup is growing fast with six all-new characters: Silver (the werewolf), REM (the cryptid), Graves (the necromancer), Apollo (the fencer), Venator (the priest), and Celeste (the musician).They aren't dropping all at once, though. Valve is releasing two heroes per week on Mondays and Thursdays at 2PM PST, kicking off January 26. Players get to influence the order by voting, and you earn those votes just by hopping into matches and playing. First win of the day gives extra votes too, so grinding helps your favorites come out sooner.
The community already picked one early favorite, but the rest roll out over the coming weeks.
Street Brawl: The New 4v4 Mode Tired of full-length matches?
Street Brawl is Valve's answer for shorter, punchier games. It's a best-of-five setup where rounds wrap up in just a few minutes.
Key changes make it feel snappy:
Everyone starts with equal resources—no heavy farming needed.
Shopping gets streamlined with random item sets; you add three items per round.
Enhanced or Legendary items can pop up for big power spikes.
It's perfect if you want quick action using the current roster without committing to a long session.
Patrons Get a Complete Overhaul
The big final objectives (the Patrons) look way cooler now. Each has a new design, a fresh name, and some intriguing lore.
One side features the Hidden King:
“The stretching shadow of a skyscraper... a boarded-up apartment in Hell’s Kitchen... The Hidden King exists in the cracks of the city, waiting for his followers to usher him into the light.”
The other is the Archmother:
“Glass, steel and stone... Order and power where once there was none… The Archmother has always guided the founders' hands, and now it is time for them to welcome her home.”These redesigns tie into the game's mysterious urban-fantasy vibe and make pushing those lanes feel more epic.
Other Notable Changes
The update isn't just about new stuff. Valve polished a lot of basics too:
Better HUD, in-game chat, and visibility options
Revamped post-game screen with MVP scoring and match summaries
Settings upgrades like an FOV slider and more reticle choices
Map tweaks and balance adjustments to keep things feeling fresh
It's clear Valve is listening to feedback and iterating fast during this beta period.
Deadlock's Possible Release Date
Right now, Deadlock remains in early development with invite-only access through Steam friend referrals—no open beta or full launch yet. The official Steam page lists the release date simply as "To be announced."
Community speculation and reports point to a full public release likely in late 2026 or possibly into 2027. Some earlier estimates hoped for mid-to-late 2025 or early 2026, but with ongoing major updates like this one, the game still needs more heroes, progression systems, ranked polish, and final art passes. Valve seems focused on building it right rather than rushing it out.
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