Image: Valve
Valve’s playtest for Deadlock has gotten a chunky new update.
Valve has issued a self-classified “major update” for Deadlock, reworking its maps to include three maps rather than four. Those who have played Deadlock will know that this is a rather big change, as it eliminates the possibility of solo lanes where 1v1 duels were commonplace, and comes with a series of changes in the map’s layout.
The update has also come with changes to Soul Orb mechanics and playable hero designs.
Valve issues major update to Deadlock
Valve has released a major update for its third-person MOBA shooter Deadlock, introducing a series of sweeping changes to the in-game map, various gameplay mechanics, and hero visuals. The most striking change is that the game’s map now consists of three lanes rather than four, likely to cut down on lengthy match times.
Here’s how Valve describes the map rework:
“The map has been redesigned around being 3 lanes rather than 4. This has a large range of accompanying map-wide changes regarding visuals, building layouts, pathways, neutral camps, air vents, breakables, powerup buffs, juke spots, mid boss, etc.”
Granted, this is a fairly big change for players who have just gotten used to playing the game’s various heroes on a now-defunct version of the map. To that end, Valve is implementing an ‘Explore map’ feature under the ‘Play’ menu that lets everyone run around an empty version of the new map.
This is a more substantial rework than it might initially seem. By removing an entire lane from the map, Deadlock now functions more like a typical MOBA, with three lanes played in duos. The fourth lane, which typically allowed for solo 1v1 duels, has now been eradicated–allowing for more cooperation within the team, and lessening the possibility of players going completely rogue.
The update also adds a few other changes to gameplay. For example, enemy troopers no longer have to be ‘last hit’ by a player to generate souls. As long as players are nearby, they can grab these souls, which now visibly fly towards them. Additionally, you’ll find that playable heroes, like Abrams in particular, look a little different. Almost all of the game’s playable heroes have been tweaked in some way with this update, from changes to their abilities and audio, to all-new character models and FX work.
This update to Deadlock is a rather big one, with enough changes to entice players who might have abandoned the game in recent months for another go. However, Valve’s journey with Deadlock is far from over, so expect at least a few of these changes to either be reverted or made redundant over the next year.
You can view this update’s full patch notes here.
