"Valve's MOBA Shooter Deadlock Unveils Ultra-Exclusive Build"

Valve’s MOBA hero shooter Deadlock remains in an invite-only testing phase as development continues with ongoing iterations. However, a recent livestream mishap appears to have exposed a second, even more restricted playtest featuring unseen characters and redesigned visuals.

Leaks emerged from a livestream by a top Deadlock player who allegedly opened the wrong build on stream. (Thanks, Eurogamer.)

The roster displayed during the stream and captured by viewers includes new characters like the classic Doorman, the bespectacled Bookworm, and the gothic Vampirebat, alongside visual updates for heroes such as Ivy. Though the streamer quickly closed the session upon realizing the mistake, the damage is done—details are now out in the open.

No additional details have surfaced yet, but this leak is still very fresh. Deadlock has long been no stranger to leaks—its very existence and early content were subjects of numerous prior disclosures. While internal test builds for broader player groups aren’t unheard of, it’s unusual for Deadlock, which is still firmly in its invite-only early stage.

Reactions have been mixed, with some users on the r/DeadlockTheGame subreddit expressing frustration that they felt they were already part of a test. Even in its more publicly accessible build, Deadlock has undergone significant and subtle changes, including the removal of an entire lane. Valve has previously used Hero Labs to let players test new heroes, but this appears to be an additional, more selective testing channel.

Despite its invite-only status, Deadlock has attracted an unexpectedly large player base and drawn attention from fans of both shooters and MOBAs. A new Valve title is always noteworthy, but its unusual rollout and persistent invite-only status have only deepened its allure. Now, it seems there’s yet another, even more tightly controlled build for the community to theorize about.

Still, it’s worth keeping things in perspective—as one Reddit user noted: “Oh great, as if one Lash wasn’t bad enough, now there are two of him!”