Deadlock is a third-person MOBA from Valve currently in early access. The game features team-based 6v6 combat with MOBA elements, including lanes, creeps, and a central AI boss that teams must defeat.
The game has hit the ground running with over 170,000 concurrent players in early access, despite Valve not going all out on promotion.
Our guide will help you join that crowd!
How To Get into Deadlock Playtest in Deadlock
The Deadlock Steam page shows the game as "limited access," meaning there are only two ways to join, but we found another way to boost your chances.
Random Invite From Valve
The first is by receiving a random invite from Valve. Invitations are being rolled out gradually, and while you can't control your chances directly, the odds get better as more invites go out. Valve has been steadily adding more players to the playtest, which means your chances improve over time.
You should regularly check your Steam notifications. Valve selects participants randomly, meaning there are no special steps to complete to be eligible. Thousands of players have already participated in the playtest, so your patience might pay off with an invite down the line.
Referral From a Friend
The second option is to get a referral from someone already participating in the playtest. If your friend has access, they can invite you directly through the game's main menu. Now that Deadlock has a Steam listing, you can easily see if any of your friends are already in the beta by checking the right side.
They need to select "Invite Your Friends" and choose you from their Steam friends list. Depending on processing times, the invite typically arrives within a few hours. Remember that Valve still has the right to limit or cap the number of players throughout the playtest, even if no such limits have been revealed.
Invites From Online Communities
If you’re not connected with anyone in the playtest, you might consider checking out online communities like the Deadlock subreddit. The subreddit features dedicated threads where players already in the playtest offer extra invites to those looking to join.
This method has become popular because getting an invite from someone already in the game is one of the best ways to get in. If you're interested, you need to send them a friend request on Steam, after which they can send you the invite through the in-game menu.
Always verify that the person offering the invite is legitimate, as scams can sometimes appear in these exchanges. That said, be cautious about who you connect with since any infractions by the inviter, like cheating, could also affect your account.
When Does the Deadlock Playtest End?
There is neither a confirmed end date for the Deadlock playtest nor an official release date. As the playtest continues and Valve incrementally increases the pool of players, it may remain in this phase for a while before shifting to a wider beta or full release. Valve is likely taking advantage of this playtest to polish mechanics, fix bugs, and make changes based on player input before committing to a full launch.
Valve has recently added 24/7 matchmaking to Deadlock, allowing players to queue anytime instead of having region-restricted time slots. The update also overhauled the minimap, enhanced visual effects, and added new behavior-tracking systems to improve the community experience. It also focused on performance upgrades and bug fixes, tackling issues like camera glitches and problems with in-game abilities.
What are your thoughts on Deadlock so far? Comment down below!