Valve's MOBA hero shooter, Deadlock, remains in an invite-only testing phase, with the company continuously refining and enhancing the game. However, a recent livestream incident has seemingly uncovered the existence of a second, more exclusive playtest, featuring new characters and redesigns.
The leak originated from a livestream by a prominent Deadlock player, who accidentally showcased an unintended Deadlock build. This slip-up, first reported by Eurogamer, revealed a roster including new characters such as the vintage Doorman, the scholarly Bookworm, and the eerie Vampirebat, alongside visual updates for existing characters like Ivy. Although the streamer quickly corrected their mistake, the cat was already out of the bag.
No further details have emerged since this fresh leak, but Deadlock is no stranger to such incidents, having been subject to numerous leaks about its existence and content. While test builds for larger player groups to experiment with updates are not uncommon, it's somewhat unusual for Deadlock, which is still in a restricted early access phase.
Reactions within the Deadlock community on r/DeadlockTheGame are varied, with some expressing frustration at feeling left out of the initial playtest. Even the more public build of Deadlock has undergone significant changes, including the removal of an entire lane. Valve has previously utilized the Hero Labs mode to allow broader player testing of new heroes, suggesting this new exclusive build serves as an additional method for more targeted testing.
Despite its limited access, Deadlock has attracted a notable player base and garnered attention from fans of both shooter and MOBA genres. The mystique surrounding this new Valve game, compounded by its unusual rollout and continued invite-only status, only adds to its allure. Now, with rumors of an even more exclusive build, speculation among players is set to intensify.
It's crucial, however, to maintain a sense of humor about these developments, as one Reddit user amusingly remarked, "Oh great, as if one Lash wasn't bad enough, now there are two of him!"
