Valve's new hero shooter, Deadlock, is making waves on Steam, recently breaking into the platform's top 10 most-played games despite being invite-only. According to player tracking site SteamDB, Deadlock achieved an all-time peak of 108,178 concurrent players on August 30, 2024.

This achievement is particularly impressive considering that Deadlock is still in an early access phase with limited availability. Only players invited directly by Valve or referred by existing participants have been able to join the game. Despite these restrictions, Deadlock has seen a steady increase in player engagement throughout August, culminating in its recent entry into Steam's top 10 charts.

Valve officially revealed the game last week, following a period of secrecy where early players were asked not to share any details about their experience. This low-key marketing strategy hasn't hindered Deadlock's success. It now surpasses popular titles like Rust and Apex Legends in concurrent player numbers, and could soon surpass longstanding titles like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto V, cementing its place as one of the most popular games on the platform.

Deadlock blends the fast-paced action of a hero shooter with strategic elements of a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), drawing inspiration from well-known games like League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, and Dota 2. Valve has not yet announced when the game will be fully open to all players or when a complete release will happen. However, the surge in player numbers suggests a growing interest and possible expansions in access soon.

The game's rapid ascent on Steam’s charts also reflects its strong community appeal and high anticipation. Alongside its impressive player count, Deadlock has accumulated close to one million wishlists on Steam, ranking it among the platform's most eagerly awaited titles.

With player numbers expected to continue rising as more players gain access and the weekend approaches, Deadlock is poised to set even more records. Valve's unconventional release strategy and the game's engaging mechanics appear to be paying off, capturing the attention of gamers around the globe.