I hope everyone out there had an incredible Thanksgiving. To celebrate, I wanted to slow down and express some gratitude and take a little time to talk through all the things I’m thankful for about Deadlock.
The Hideout: The Unspoken Heart of Deadlock
One thing that I am thankful for is the Hideout. When it first came out, I made an entire video just about it because I genuinely think it’s one of the coolest features Deadlock has added so far.
The Hideout adds personality to the game. It adds
vibe. It gives Deadlock an identity the moment you boot it up. And I really believe we subconsciously measure games from the second we launch them to the second we shut them down—not just the gameplay in the middle. The Hideout sets the tone, gives you a cozy place to decompress after matches, and just elevates the whole experience.
Valve, if you’re reading this, please keep expanding the Hideout. I fully expect you will. But seriously: this one feature alone added so much soul to Deadlock.
Valve’s Approach to Development
Another huge thing I’m thankful for is Valve as a developer, at least for this project. The way Deadlock has been built, tweaked, and iterated on feels different from most games I’ve followed over the years. I’ve been gaming since the 90’s—yeah, I’m an old head—and I can honestly say this is one of the most unique development cycles I’ve ever seen.
There’s this sense that the people who have been here since the beginning, or close to it, are sharing in something kind of special. The game has had big influxes of players and waves of streamers coming in and out, but there’s still this core community of players who’ve stuck around consistently. And Valve has listened to that group more than any developer I can remember listening to its early community.
Little things—like the way Victor travels on the zipline—are getting implemented because a dev saw a forum post and thought it was funny? That’s wild. And that’s exactly why I appreciate Valve’s approach so much.
Deadlock’s Growing Grassroots Esports Scene
I’m also incredibly thankful for the grassroots esports scene that has developed around Deadlock. I’ve been watching every broadcast since those early Deadlock Fight Night days, and it honestly reminds me of old-school Overwatch—before the franchised Overwatch League, when everything was scrappy and full of personality.
The casters, the community tournaments, the podcasts, the variety of creator-run events—there’s just a ton of passion there. And as someone who loves esports, it’s been fun to watch Deadlock find its footing in that space.
Deadlock’s Individuality and the Latest Patch
Another big thing I’m thankful for is the simple fact that Deadlock is unique. In a gaming landscape stuffed with reboots, remakes, sequels, cinematic universes, and IP mashups, Deadlock feels wholly its own. Its heroes, art style, combat identity—everything feels original. And yes, maybe I’m just jaded, but the individuality here is refreshing.
And of course, I’m thankful for the recent patch, which I genuinely believe might be one of Deadlock’s most important. The laning changes, the proactive hotfixes, the way Valve quickly addressed deathball and weapon balance—it all feels like the game stepping into its next form. It’s dynamic, intentional, strategic. It feels good.
What I am most thankful for in Deadlock & Happy Thanksgiving from Dead Unlocked!!
And Finally: The Community
And last but absolutely not least:
I am so deeply thankful for the community
that has grown around this game. The people who show up consistently. The names and profile pictures I recognize instantly now. The folks who comment on nearly every post. The OGs who were here long before there was any real momentum.
You all are the reason I continue creating content, and I sincerely mean that. So on this Thanksgiving, the biggest thanks of all goes to you.
Happy Thanksgiving, and here’s to many more chapters of Deadlock to come.
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