Deadlock Transforms from Four Lanes to Three in Exciting Major Update

Deadlock, the innovative third-person MOBA from Valve, has just announced a significant update that's set to shake up the game's core mechanics. This update, the first major one in months, promises to refine the gameplay experience and bring new life to the community. Dive in to discover the full scope of these changes and what they mean for Deadlock's future.

Deadlock Announces Major Update In Months

Four-lane Map Becomes Three Lanes

Valve unveiled the details of this pivotal update on Steam on February 26, 2025, transforming Deadlock’s map from four lanes to a more streamlined three-lane structure. This significant change is accompanied by a comprehensive overhaul of the map, including adjustments to visuals, building layouts, pathways, neutral camps, air vents, breakables, powerup buffs, juke spots, and the mid boss.

The shift from four to three lanes aims to simplify gameplay while maintaining the unique third-person perspective that sets Deadlock apart in the MOBA genre. The update also introduces changes to farming mechanics, eliminating the need to last-hit enemy troopers to summon Soul Orbs, thereby making early laning phases more accessible. Furthermore, the patch promises enhancements to the game’s netcode and client performance, ensuring smoother gameplay for all players.

Vital Update for Deadlock

This update could be the catalyst Deadlock needs to reignite interest and bring back its player base. The game saw a remarkable peak of 171,490 active players in September 2024, but experienced a drastic 90% decrease in player count over the following months, with only around 17,000 players active recently.

Valve Developer Yoshi addressed the community on Deadlock’s Discord server in January 2025, stating that the development team is adjusting their update schedule. Moving away from the previous two-week cycle, Yoshi announced, "Going forward, major patches will no longer be on a fixed schedule. These patches will be larger than before, albeit a little bit more spaced out, and hotfixes will continue to be released as needed. We look forward to fleshing out the game in the new year."

Deadlock remains in active development and playtesting, accessible only through friend invites. While no specific release date has been announced, the game continues to evolve with community feedback at the forefront. For more details and the latest updates on Deadlock, be sure to visit our dedicated Deadlock page.