Valve's upcoming MOBA, Deadlock, has achieved a new peak concurrent player count, reaching 262,145 players on Steam. This figure notably surpasses the all-time peak concurrent player record previously held by Valve's enduringly popular shooter, Team Fortress 2, which stood at 253,997.
This surge in player activity coincided with the release of Deadlock's latest hero, Solomon, a character described as a "chess wizard." The new hero's unique weapon is a chessboard, which players have reported recreates historic game states upon reloading, depending on the number of "bullets" loaded onto the field. The game, which remains in an invite-only test phase, has seen its popularity grow considerably since it first leaked nearly two years ago.
While Deadlock's new record excludes player numbers from Team Fortress 2's original release on Xbox 360 and PS3 as part of The Orange Box, it still represents a significant milestone for the new title. The comparison to Team Fortress 2's peak is noteworthy, especially considering the difference in PC gaming's overall popularity during each game's respective rise. Deadlock's success also highlights the difficulty of breaking into the competitive MOBA genre.
Valve's approach to Deadlock, developing it for years without direct monetization, is attributed to the company's position as a major digital storefront owner. This contrasts with past Valve projects, such as the trading card game Artifact, which ultimately saw its development cease and was later made free-to-play.
The ongoing momentum for Deadlock, even in its limited testing phase, suggests a strong reception for its unique hero-based shooter-MOBA hybrid gameplay. The introduction of novel characters like Solomon appears to be a key driver in maintaining player interest during its development cycle.