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Some games aren’t just meant to be played, they’re meant to be explored.DeadlockNew update ofCity Never Sleepsgiving off a similar vibe. Harvey Randall of PC Gamer even called it his “favorite video game setting in years.”
Image credit: Valve
The game is not fully released yet
First, let’s clarify one thing. Deadlock hasn’t officially launched yet. It’s in beta, where Valve is generously offering invites, and many are available in the Discord community. According to another report from PC Gamer, Valve says the game is too incomplete to be released publicly. Still, the author has already poured nearly 350 hours into it, and he doesn’t regret a single one.
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The entire map has been redrawn
The biggest highlight of this update is the complete map overhaul.Cursed AppleThat is, a 1950s New York filled with supernatural forces. According to the author, this doesn’t feel like a redesign of the old map, but rather like a deepening of what already existed. New textures and unique little details have been added to every corner.
- Broadway:The once bustling center lane has become a city of flashing neon lights, with flashing signs and advertisements—a sort of miniature version of Times Square in the 1950s.
- Greenwich:This previously lush green area has now become a spooky, occult-inspired version of Central Park, complete with a university and a grove of trees.
- York:It used to have only an industrial feel. Now, Walker Arena has been transformed into a stock exchange and a dusty factory.
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“Districts” are no longer just roads
The areas between lanes, called districts, were previously simply extensions of the lanes. Now, each has its own unique character and neutral monsters (creeps).
The Theater District boasts creepy dolls with ghostly hands. Chinatown boasts floating festive spirits and haunted cabbage pots. In a plaza, a demonic Atlas statue stands holding a glowing sphere.
The author has two favorite areas.Library, where there are little book goblins called “past dues” who attack with stamps of late-returned books.Ghostly Plot, where barrel-shaped mimics wielding tire irons lie in wait like an organized gang. It’s hilarious.
The most surprising thing is that the map is relatively small and can be traversed in a minute or two if you move skillfully, yet it feels vast and varied.
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New heroes won hearts
In the update6 new heroesare connected, and according to the author it is among Valve’s best works.
- Deadman Danny:Fairfax Industries’ weapons salesman and crash test dummy, a walking skeleton.
- Nurse Harrow:A strict nurse, resembling either a creature from Lovecraft or a biblical angel.
- Rat King:It has over 100 dialects that directly taunt enemies by naming them.
- Violet:An art student whose paint spots on his feet add to his entire personality.
- Solomon:An elderly chess enthusiast who seems to have acquired supernatural powers after spending hours in Central Park.
- Baba:Baba Yaga, from Russian folklore, has been reimagined. Now she’s a pigeon-feeding grandmother who wanders around on a park bench with bird-like feet. The author says he loves the character immensely.
Old characters also received new dialogue and voice lines, deepening the story and background. According to the author, Pocket and Mina’s storyline broke his “romantic heart.”
Conclusion
The most interesting thing about this report is that the authors love the setting so much that they wish it wasn’t tied to a MOBA. Understanding a complex genre like MOBA requires hundreds of hours, and not everyone has that patience. But they recommend that even if you don’t play the game in its entirety, you should at least take a look at its atmosphere.
This project from Valve is still incomplete, but the way its world and characters are developing suggests it could be quite special in its final form. If you have a beta invite, you’re definitely worth checking out this update.
