Exclusive Build of Valve's MOBA Shooter Deadlock Revealed

Valve's MOBA hero shooter, Deadlock, remains in an exclusive invite-only testing phase, with the company diligently working on refining the game. However, a recent livestream mishap has sparked intrigue, suggesting the existence of an even more secretive playtest featuring new characters and updated designs.

The incident occurred during a livestream by a prominent Deadlock player, who inadvertently opened an unintended build of the game on stream, as reported by Eurogamer. The brief glimpse revealed new characters such as the retro-inspired Doorman, the scholarly Bookworm, and the eerie Vampirebat, along with visual updates for existing characters like Ivy. Despite the streamer's quick reaction to close the build, the leak had already spread among viewers.

At this stage, no further details have emerged, but the leak is still fresh. Deadlock is no stranger to leaks, having been the subject of numerous rumors about its existence and content. While it's not unusual for games to have test builds for a broader audience to try out upcoming features, it's particularly notable for Deadlock, which is still tightly controlled in its early stages.

Community reactions on the r/DeadlockTheGame subreddit are mixed. Some players express frustration, feeling left out of the inner circle of testers. Deadlock has seen a range of changes, from minor tweaks to major alterations such as the removal of an entire lane. Valve has previously utilized the Hero Labs mode to allow players to test new heroes, but this appears to be an additional, even more selective method for testing.

Despite its limited accessibility, Deadlock has attracted a significant number of players and garnered attention from fans of both shooter games and MOBAs. A new title from Valve naturally draws interest, and the game's unusual release strategy and continued invite-only status have only heightened its allure. The revelation of a second, more exclusive build adds another layer of mystery for the community to ponder.

However, as one Reddit user humorously remarked, "Oh great as if one Lash wasn't bad enough, now there are two of him!" This light-hearted comment serves as a reminder to keep the leaks in perspective amidst the excitement and speculation.