Deadlock has been in invite-only early beta testing for over a year now, with previous updates introducing a steady trickle of new content alongside substantial stability fixes, UI polish, and quality-of-life changes. The latest update to the free-to-play MOBA-meets-hero shooter, however, introduces a whack of new content, including a new game mode, six new heroes, and new enemies to hunt down. Along with the new in-game content, Deadlock’s ongoing UI overhaul, map updates, and quality-of-life options also receive a number of helpful additions. The UI now looks a lot more cohesive throughout, thanks to changes to the chat UI, the introduction of several interactive elements, including new damage indicators and numbers, a custom Steam recording timeline, objective health bars, and a completely reworked settings menu with a bunch of new options, including reticle control. The Patrons—NPC objectives players have to defend or defeat—have also been reworked and reintroduced as the Hidden King and the Archmother.
The biggest news in the latest update is by far the new game mode. Street Brawl is a fast-paced game mode that puts players in smaller 4v4 match-up in a best-of-five format. Players vie for control of the city, and each of the rounds only takes “a couple of minutes.” Shopping during Street Brawl has been stripped back, with players able to add three items from a random pool to their inventory each round. There is also no farming, as player resources are reset each round. Valve has also revealed six new heroes, which will be released at the usual two-per-week rate. Aside from the teaser images posted on the mini site, also available below, not much has been revealed other than the heroes’ names and their appearances. Judging by the available information, the new heroes consist of everything from melee brawlers and weapons experts to mages, a summoner, and even a support character.
Alongside the new game mode and heroes, the UI changes, and the reworked Patrons, the update brings quality-of-life updates in the form of a new mini-map mid boss timer, an updated scoreboard and post-game stats screens, a hole-punch view for obstacles you should be able to see over, and outlines through walls when approaching neutral jungle camps. The map rework is also well under way, with The Cursed Apple getting a visual overhaul once again.