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Valve’s September 29, 2026 City Never Sleeps update adds six heroes and other changes to Deadlock, but Valve still describes the game as unfinished. The update is part of ongoing early development—not an announcement of a public release date. Valve says it wants players to help shape the game while core features are still being developed.
What Valve announced in City Never Sleeps
The September 29, 2026 update, City Never Sleeps, includes a major visual update to the map and neutral characters, six new heroes, HUD changes, quality-of-life improvements, and accessibility options. Valve thanked players for their support and feedback “despite the game being unfinished.”
That wording is a statement about the game’s development stage, not a claim that the update is defective. Valve is continuing to change and expand the game while players are already able to play it.
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Who are the six new Deadlock heroes?
In its September 30, 2026 report, Dot Esports identified the six as:
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- Nurse Harrow
- Rat King
- Solomon
- Deadman Danny
- Baba
- Violet
Dot Esports reported that the heroes’ full ability kits had not yet been revealed at the time of publication.
When are the new heroes coming out?
Dot Esports reported on September 30, 2026, that players were voting in the pregame lobby on which hero would arrive next. Under the reported voting rules, the winning team’s votes counted double, as did each player’s first daily win. The outlet listed this release schedule:
Rank #2
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| Reported release | Timing reported by Dot Esports |
|---|---|
| First hero | October 2, 2026 |
| Following heroes | Two per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. PT, through October 20, 2026 |
This is a schedule reported by Dot Esports on September 30, not a guarantee that the timing remained unchanged. Check the game or Valve’s update channel for the latest rollout information.
Why is Deadlock still unfinished?
Valve’s explanation is that making a multiplayer game involves risk, and putting it in players’ hands early lets the team learn what works and what does not. In the update statement, Valve said it wants community feedback to help shape the game rather than waiting until development is further along.
Rank #3
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Valve also said it still had significant work to do on the core game after the Old Gods New Blood update, before shifting toward later polish work such as refreshing older hero artwork. It specifically named progression and customization for heroes and the Hideout as areas the team wants to adjust substantially in response to feedback before full release.
That distinction explains how a large content update can arrive while the game remains unfinished: new material can be developed alongside unresolved systems and design decisions. Valve says some features are still open to change, so the presence of new heroes does not mean the core game is complete.
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- SURVIVE! In The Walking Dead: The Dice Game, Rick Grimes is recruiting for an open spot in their group of survivors. Players take on the role of hopefuls who are required to undertake a supply run while trying to outwit other survivors and Walkers.
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What work is planned, and what is still tentative?
Valve separates work it considers important from ideas that remain subject to testing. In the update statement, it described large item redesigns or additions and alternate modes as speculative and dependent on playtesting. It also identified the Midboss model and layout, Guardians, and Walkers as work still to be done, and said older-hero remodels would be handled gradually in future updates.
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Does this mean Deadlock is releasing publicly soon?
No public-release date was given in Valve’s announcement. The arrival of six heroes and the scope of the update do not establish that a wider release is imminent. PC Gamer’s September 30, 2026 coverage likewise characterized the update as no sign of an imminent public release and noted that Valve had not set a clear milestone for moving into a polish phase.
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