Deadlock Update City Never Sleeps: What’s New

Deadlock Hits 228K Players, But Valve Says It’s Still Far From Finished

Deadlock just hit more than 228,000 concurrent players on Steam, and Valve’s latest update gives us a better look at what is happening behind the scenes.

Sep 30, 2026

by Emmanuel Umahi

Deadlock has just had one of its biggest moments since Valve began letting players into its unfinished hero shooter. The game crossed 228,000 concurrent players on Steam, setting a new all-time peak shortly after the launch of its latest major update.

But the player count is only part of the story.

Alongside the City Never Sleeps update, Valve also provided a surprisingly useful look at Deadlock’s development. And if you have been wondering how close the game is to actually being finished, the answer is: there is still a lot of work to do.

What Is New in Deadlock’s City Never Sleeps Update?

The biggest addition is a new New York City-inspired map, giving Deadlock a very different atmosphere from its existing environments. Valve has gone for a stylised version of New York, drawing heavily from the city’s early-to-mid-20th-century look while adding the spooky, supernatural elements that have become part of Deadlock’s identity.

The update also introduces Haunts, the new official name for the neutral creatures players previously knew as Neutrals.

There are several new types, including Specimen, a disembodied hand inside a jar; Past Dues, which have a library-inspired design; Gutter Ghouls, which look like walking trash bags; and Barrel Mimics, which turn ordinary-looking barrels into enemies.

Valve has also added Stage Hands, Festival Spirits, Shrooms and Underhands, giving the new map plenty of unusual creatures to encounter.

Deadlock Is Getting Six New Heroes

There are also six new heroes in development: Nurse Harrow, Rat King, Solomon, Deadman Danny, Baba and Violet.

Interestingly, Valve isn't simply dropping all six into the game at once. Players can vote in-game for which hero should be released first, giving the community a direct say in the next character addition.

Some of these characters already feel very Deadlock. Rat King comes with a pizza rat companion, Solomon is a competitive chess player, while Baba is an elderly woman who spends her time with pigeons.

It is a strange lineup, but that is arguably the point. Valve appears to be continuing to push Deadlock towards a distinct identity rather than making another conventional hero shooter.