Deadlock player count plummets, prompting Valve to overhaul its development strategy. The game's peak concurrent player count has fallen to below 20,000, a significant drop from its previous high of over 170,000. In response, Valve has announced a change in its update schedule.
Moving forward, Deadlock updates will no longer adhere to a fixed bi-weekly release cycle. Instead, major updates will be released on a more flexible timeline, allowing developers more time to thoroughly implement and test changes. This shift, according to a developer, should result in more substantial and polished updates. Regular hotfixes will continue to address critical issues as needed.
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The previous two-week update cycle, while initially beneficial, proved too restrictive, hindering the proper implementation and testing of significant changes. This prompted Valve's strategic shift.
While the player count decline is undeniable, it doesn't necessarily signal the game's demise. Deadlock, still in its early access phase without a confirmed release date, is unlikely to launch in the near future. This is especially true considering Valve's apparent focus on a new Half-Life title, which reportedly has internal approval.
Valve's adjusted approach prioritizes quality over speed. The company believes a high-quality product will ultimately attract and retain players. The change in development cadence is largely for the benefit of the developers, mirroring a similar shift in Dota 2's development lifecycle. Therefore, there's no immediate cause for alarm regarding Deadlock's future.
