If you’re one of the lucky players who scored an invite to the closed playtest for Riot’s new 6v6 hero shooter, your first question is almost certainly how long will deadlock playtest last, especially if you’re juggling limited gaming time with work, school, or other game commitments. I’ve been covering Riot’s test cycles for over 7 years, and I’ve sat through every closed and open test for Valorant, Legends of Runeterra, and even the canceled Project A early builds, so I’ve got a good handle on how the studio structures its testing phases. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the playtest’s length, what changes you can expect mid-test, and how to make the most of your access before it wraps up.
How Long Will Deadlock Playtest Last: Core Phase Timelines Explained
If you’re checking daily for announcements about how long will deadlock playtest last, you can find official updates in the in-game news tab every Friday, so you don’t have to rely on unconfirmed leaks from social media. Riot typically runs closed playtests for 4 to 8 weeks per wave, depending on the number of critical bugs and feature gaps they identify early on. The current Deadlock playtest wave, as of the latest developer update, is scheduled to run for 7 weeks total, with a possible 1 to 3 week extension if they roll out new hero or map updates they need extra data on.
Unlike many indie studio playtests that only run on weekends, Deadlock’s playtest runs 24/7 for the entire duration of the phase, except for scheduled 2 to 3 hour maintenance windows every Wednesday to push patches and fix bugs. If you got an invite in the second wave of sign-ups, your access is valid for the entire remaining length of the current playtest, even if you join halfway through. You won’t lose access if you take a few days off, either, as long as you log in at least once every 14 days to keep your account active.
Factors That Can Extend or Shorten the Deadlock Playtest
You might have seen players on Reddit or Discord speculating that the playtest will end early, or run for months longer than announced, but there are a handful of consistent factors that Riot uses to adjust test timelines, no matter the game. I’ve seen these rules applied to every Riot test I’ve participated in, so they’re far more reliable than random social media rumors.
- Critical bug volume: If testers report high numbers of game-breaking crashes, hero ability bugs that break competitive balance, or server instability that makes matches unplayable, Riot will almost always extend the playtest by 1 to 2 weeks to fix and re-test these issues before moving to the next phase.
- New feature rollouts: When the dev team decides to test a new game mode, hero, or map mid-playtest, they will add 1 to 3 weeks to the timeline to gather enough feedback and match data for the new content before wrapping up the phase.
- Player engagement rates: If playtest participation drops below 30% of active invited testers for more than 2 consecutive weeks, Riot may end the phase early, since they can’t gather enough representative data to make meaningful improvements.
- Full release schedule alignment: Riot always ties playtest timelines to their planned release window for the full game, so if the marketing team shifts the launch date by a month, you can expect the playtest timeline to shift to match.
I saw this exact scenario play out during the Valorant closed beta in 2020, when the devs added the Spike Rush game mode halfway through testing and extended the beta by 2 weeks to get enough player data. You don't have to panic if you see an unannounced patch drop mid-test, it's usually a sign that the team is happy with feedback and wants to test more content before wrapping up.
What to Expect During the Final Weeks of the Deadlock Playtest
Most players don't realize that the last 2 weeks of any Riot playtest are very different from the first few weeks, so it's helpful to plan your playtime accordingly. First, Riot will disable all account progress resets for the final 7 days of the playtest, so any skins, rank gains, or unlocks you earn during that window will carry over to the next test phase, and in some cases, even to the full launch of the game.
The dev team will roll out a "feedback freeze" 3 days before the playtest ends, meaning they won't accept new bug reports or feature requests after that date, since they're already wrapping up their analysis of the data they've gathered. You'll also usually get a free in-game reward for participating in the playtest if you log in at least once during the final week, so even if you don't have time to play full matches, it's worth logging in for 5 minutes to claim that reward. Don't be surprised if the servers get more unstable during the final 48 hours, as the team starts running stress tests to prepare for the open beta or full launch.
How to Make the Most of the Deadlock Playtest Before It Ends
If you're worried about running out of time to test all the features you're interested in, there are a few simple steps you can take to get the most value out of your access before the playtest wraps. First, prioritize testing the content that won't be available in the open beta, like the exclusive test hero and the ranked play mode that's only enabled for closed playtest participants.
Make sure you submit formal feedback through the in-game tool for any bugs you find or features you want adjusted, since Riot weights closed playtest feedback far more heavily than open beta feedback, as closed testers are usually more invested in the game's long-term success. You can also join the official Deadlock Discord server to connect with other testers, share strategy tips, and get real-time updates from the dev team about possible timeline extensions.
If you want to keep access for future test phases, make sure you play at least 3 matches per week for the rest of the playtest, as Riot prioritizes players who are active in earlier phases when sending out invites for later tests. It's also a good idea to record clips of any weird bugs or impressive plays you make, since you'll be able to share those once the NDA lifts, usually 1 to 2 days after the playtest ends.
At the end of the day, no one can give you a 100% exact answer to how long will deadlock playtest last, since timelines can shift based on player feedback and technical issues, but you can safely assume it will run for at least 6 weeks per closed phase, with possible short extensions as the dev team adds new content. If you stay active in the community and check the in-game notification tab regularly, you'll get at least 7 days' notice before the playtest wraps up, so you won't miss your chance to test all the features you're excited about. Don't stress too much about squeezing in hundreds of hours of playtime, even a few matches a week and a couple of feedback submissions are enough to help the dev team make the game better, and keep you eligible for future testing access.