In exciting news for gaming enthusiasts, Valve appears to be on the verge of announcing their much-awaited new game titled "Deadlock." Rumored to be a third-person hero shooter, the game is currently in its closed alpha phase and is said to be nearing completion, according to reports from well-known Valve reporter Tyler McVicker and content creator Gabe Follower.

The development of Deadlock is a significant venture for Valve, as it has been in progress since 2018, under the guidance of IceFrog, the renowned developer associated with the original DotA mod. It is believed to be the culmination of the long-rumored Neon Prime project, which has kept gaming enthusiasts guessing for years.

Described as Valve's next major competitive game, McVicker states that Deadlock aims to bring together the various game communities fostered by the company. Comparing it to popular titles like Valorant, Overwatch, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2, McVicker highlights its precise gunplay and the strategic objectives inspired by MOBA games.

In terms of visuals, Deadlock takes players to a captivating fantasy setting intertwined with steampunk elements, deviating from previous reports that painted a sci-fi-inspired world within Neon Prime. Shared screenshots, posted by Gabe Follower, showcase a more restrained aesthetic, dispelling some early comparisons to Overwatch and Valorant.

Despite Valve's track record of delaying or abandoning projects, Deadlock seems to be progressing well. Currently, the game is in closed alpha, with an estimated "hundreds" of players actively participating. While the possibility of unforeseen challenges still exists, June historically marks a significant month for game announcements, raising hopes of an official revelation in the near future.

Fans eagerly await further updates on Deadlock and are optimistic that it will mark an important milestone for Valve, with the company's last major release being Half-Life: Alyx. Whether Deadlock lives up to the high expectations and becomes a monumental new IP remains to be seen, but for now, anticipation continues to build as the closed alpha progresses.