Valve Teases Deadlock at The International Dota 2 Tournament Is a Big Reveal Just Around the Corner

Valve dropped a bombshell at the Dota 2 tournament, The International, by showing a sneak peek of Deadlock during the event. Deadlock’s recent popularity on Steam has been skyrocketing, but it hadn’t yet featured an official trailer. In a game analysis during the match between Xtreme Gaming and Tundra Esports, Valve unveiled a short gameplay clip for the very first time.

This happened as analyst Kevin “Purge” Godec was breaking down a skirmish where Shadow Fiend, a Dota 2 hero, lost his souls from a long-range kill. Right then, the Deadlock clip sneaked in, showing a Vindicta player executing a long-range kill in Deadlock and releasing souls for collection.

For more juicy details about Deadlock, check out our guides on the September 12 update or dive into our ultimate guide for mastering the game.

A First Look at Deadlock During The International

This was clearly intentional, despite some Twitch viewers initially thinking it was a production error. The clip was most likely approved by Valve, even though the company hasn’t made an official announcement yet. This unexpected reveal hints at a possible announcement during the tournament, reminiscent of Valve’s past reveals like the unveiling of Artifact at the same event.

Interestingly, this isn’t the only Deadlock reference at this edition of The International. Event host Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner appeared dressed as Infernus, a hero from Deadlock, adding more fuel to the announcement speculation. This strategy echoes previous events, though Valve might be more cautious given the mixed reactions to Artifact‘s reveal.

Is a Full Deadlock Reveal Coming Soon?

It’s too early to tell if Valve will fully unveil Deadlock during The International, but fans are on high alert for any clues. Even if there’s no official announcement, this could be another classic instance of Valve keeping us all in suspense about their upcoming projects.

Meanwhile, the final day of The International promises to be epic, with four European teams still in the running, each with a shot at the championship.

Check out the cameo clip on Twitch