Deadlock Changes from Four Lanes to Three in New Major Update

Deadlock's major update, its first in months, is shaking things up with a significant map overhaul: a reduction from four lanes to three. Read on to learn about this game-changing update and other recent developments.

Deadlock Announces Major Update

From Four Lanes to Three: A Map Restructure

Deadlock's latest update dramatically simplifies its map, shrinking the four-lane battlefield down to three. Valve announced the complete map rework, along with numerous accompanying changes, on Steam on February 26, 2025. These changes encompass visuals, building layouts, pathways, neutral camps, air vents, breakables, power-up buffs, juke spots, and even the mid-boss encounter. Deadlock’s unique third-person MOBA perspective might have found the four-lane system overly complex.

The update also streamlines early-game farming. Players no longer need to last-hit enemy troopers to summon Soul Orbs, making resource acquisition significantly easier. Furthermore, the patch notes promise improvements to netcode and client performance.

A Vital Update for Deadlock's Future

This update could be the catalyst Deadlock needs to reignite player interest. While the game reached an all-time peak of 171,490 concurrent players in September 2024, player numbers have since plummeted by approximately 90%, with only around 17,000 players active last month.

In January 2025, Valve developer Yoshi explained on Deadlock's Discord server the reasoning behind the change in update frequency. The previous two-week update cycle proved too restrictive for implementing substantial changes. Yoshi stated, "Going forward, major patches will no longer be on a fixed schedule. These patches will be larger, though less frequent, and hotfixes will continue as needed. We aim to significantly improve the game in the new year."

Deadlock is currently undergoing active development and playtesting, accessible via friend invites only. No official release date has been announced. For more information on Deadlock, please visit our Deadlock page.