

Leaked footage reveals Valve's new game, Deadlock, featuring steampunk and fantasy elements in a multiplayer hero shooter format. The game combines aspects of Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2, offering a 6v6 third-person competitive experience with tower defense mechanics. Several heroes and training modes are showcased, aiming to attract both new and seasoned players.

The gameplay in Deadlock features a movement system that is similar to the skyhook system used in BioShock: Infinite4. In Deadlock, players can ride on aerial lines, allowing them to quickly traverse the game's environment. This system provides a fast and efficient way for players to move around the map, adding a dynamic element to the gameplay. The skyhook system in BioShock: Infinite served a similar purpose, allowing the player to hook onto rails and travel across the floating city of Columbia. Both systems offer a unique and engaging way for players to navigate their respective game worlds.

Valve's rumored game, Deadlock, incorporates specific elements of steampunk and fantasy into its design, creating a unique aesthetic and gameplay experience. The steampunk influence is evident in the game's setting and visual design, which features a modern steampunk European city ambiance reminiscent of Half-Life's sci-fi elements, though the game ultimately focuses more on fantasy elements after receiving feedback2. This blend includes mechanical and steam-powered technology aesthetics typical of steampunk, integrated with fantastical themes and environments2.
The fantasy elements are further highlighted through the character designs and the magical or mythical nature of the heroes, such as an impish character named Ivy and a gentleman demon named Infernus. These characters, along with others like the sneaky operative Haze, glass cannon Lady Geist, and pale sniper Vindicta, add to the fantasy aspect by bringing in diverse, imaginative roles that fit within a magical universe. Additionally, the gameplay includes aerial lines for navigation, similar to the skyhook system in BioShock: Infinite, which although technically steampunk, also adds a fantastical method of movement and combat to the game’s mechanics3.