“I don’t see it pulling many players away”: Living in Denial or Avoiding the Inevitable? Many Can’t Accept Deadlock Can be an Overwatch-Killer

Valve’s Deadlock started its Alpha testing phase with a bang and has attracted a lot of players. Fans online are already comparing the game to other hero shooters like Overwatch and Valorant. Despite what fans think though, it’s not exactly a Hero Shooter or First-Person Shooter (FPS).

It leans more toward the mechanics of MOBAs like Smite and Dota 2. Despite its initial success in early access, many believe it isn’t a direct competitor to Overwatch and won’t pull its player base away. So, are players in denial, or is the comparison flawed from the start?

Deadlock Might Be the Next Big Thing, but Will It Be Big Enough?

One of the main differences between Deadlock and its so-called rivals is its genre. While Overwatch is a first-person hero shooter, the new competition has more MOBA-like mechanics in its third-person shooter format. Players have noted that while it does have characters with abilities like Overwatch, the gameplay differs from the traditional hero shooter model.

It does have certain advantages over Overwatch that could help it gain more traction in the long run. For one, Valve has been consistent with the updates, as you’d expect for a game in Alpha. The devs are introducing new features and mechanics during the alpha, such as wall-jumping and massive balance updates.

The game is also already proving to be a huge hit in its own right. Its early alpha testing phase attracted over 100,000 daily players, and this number continues to climb. The fact that it appeals to both MOBA and shooter audiences is one of its greatest strengths, giving it a fresh feel in a saturated market.

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Valve already has experience in making competitive games that last. The early success the company has seen with its new release hints at a future where it could take over a sizable portion of the multiplayer market, though not necessarily at the expense of Overwatch.

Valve Knows How To Make It Work, Will We See Another Banger?

One major challenge Deadlock faces in the competition against Overwatch is its player base loyalty. Overwatch has survived numerous controversies and disappointments. The most recent one being the cancellation of its single-player mode and ongoing balance issues.

Many players have been with Overwatch for years making it difficult for any game to pull them away completely. But the competition will soon change as even Marvel Rivals is looking to compete. So let’s see what happens.

Despite its success, it’s unlikely that Deadlock will outright ‘kill’ Overwatch. The brand recognition that Blizzard has achieved with its game and characters is deeply ingrained in players. Players who have spent years mastering its mechanics or have a strong emotional connection to its heroes are not likely to abandon the game altogether.

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Deadlock may actually siphon players from other games like Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2 rather than Overwatch. It is not so much a direct competitor to hero shooters, but a new breed of third-person MOBA with mechanics that make it appealing to those tired of traditional MOBA games.

Deadlock’s shop mechanics, character customization, and deep strategic gameplay resonate with players who enjoy the lane-based combat seen in games like Dota 2 but crave something new.

Have you checked out this new MOBA shooter on the block? Let us know in the comments!

This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire