If you’re a fan of fast-paced, team-based MOBAs, you’ve almost certainly seen the buzz around Valve’s newest title, Deadlock. The game blends third-person shooter mechanics with classic MOBA character roles and map design, and thousands of players are itching to try it before the full public release. Learning how to get Deadlock early access is top of mind for many gamers right now, but the high demand has also led to a flood of scams and misinformation online. This guide only covers legitimate, Valve-approved methods to get into the playtest, so you don’t have to worry about losing money or compromising your personal data.
Legitimate Ways How to Get Deadlock Early Access Right Now
Valve has rolled out multiple official channels for players to request entry into the Deadlock early access playtest, and none of them require you to pay for access. All these methods are 100% safe, and they’re the only ways you can get guaranteed access to the game right now. You can pick one or try all of them to increase your chances of getting an invite faster.
- Sign up for official Valve playtesting directly through the Steam store page
- Participate in official Deadlock community giveaways hosted on verified social channels
- Enter giveaways from trusted content creators partnered directly with the Deadlock development team
The most reliable method by far is the Steam playtest sign-up. To do this, go to the official Deadlock store page on Steam, scroll down until you see the “Request Access” button, and click it to add your account to the waitlist. Make sure your Steam profile is set to public when you submit your request, so the playtesting team can verify your play history and account legitimacy. Invites go out in batches every two to three weeks, so you won’t get an immediate response, but you’ll get a Steam notification if your request is approved. Official giveaways are run through the verified Deadlock X (Twitter) account, Discord server, and Reddit community. These giveaways usually ask you to share a post, answer a simple game-related question, or participate in a community event to enter. Never click giveaway links that are not posted directly on these official channels, as fake giveaway sites are designed to steal your Steam login credentials. Content creator giveaways are another valid option, but you have to be careful who you trust. Only enter giveaways from creators who explicitly state they are partnering with Valve for the promotion, and who have a history of legitimate gaming content. Avoid small, unknown accounts that ask you to send them money or personal information to enter a giveaway, as these are almost always scams.
Common Deadlock Early Access Scams to Avoid
Demand for Deadlock early access is extremely high right now, with recent data showing over 2 million players have signed up for the playtest. Scammers are taking advantage of that demand to trick players out of their money or personal data, and these scams are more common than you might think. I’ve seen at least two dozen posts on the Deadlock Reddit in the last month alone from players who lost $30 or more to fake key sellers or sketchy download sites. The first and most important rule to remember is there is no way to pay for Deadlock early access right now. Valve has not sold any early access keys, and any site that asks you to pay $10, $20, or any other amount for a key is a scam. These sites will either take your money and send you a fake key, or send you a file loaded with malware that steals your Steam account information. Another common scam is people selling “early access accounts” on Discord, Steam, or third-party marketplaces. Even if the person shows you proof that they have access to the game, they can easily recover the account after you send them payment, and you’ll lose both your money and access. Valve also bans accounts that are sold or traded, so even if the sale works at first, you could lose access without warning a few days later. Fake launcher downloads are another big risk. Some sites will claim you can download a “cracked” version of Deadlock early access without an invite, but these files almost always contain ransomware or keyloggers that will infect your device. Stick to official Steam downloads only, even if you do get an invite, to avoid this risk.
What to Do After You Receive Your Deadlock Early Access Invite
When you get an invite, the first thing you should do is verify it’s legitimate. Official invites will only come via a direct Steam notification, or an email from an @valvesoftware.com or @playdeadlock.com email address. If you get an email invite, don’t click any links in the email. Go directly to the Deadlock Steam store page on your own, and check if you have the option to install the game. That’s the only 100% safe way to confirm your access is real. Once you confirm you have access, you can download the game immediately through Steam. Valve explicitly allows streaming and recording Deadlock early access gameplay, so you don’t have to worry about getting a DMCA strike if you want to share your playthroughs on Twitch, YouTube, or social media. The dev team actually encourages content creation during the playtest, as it helps them get more feedback from a wider range of players. You’ll get a prompt to fill out a short feedback survey after your first five hours of play. The survey asks about your experience with bugs, character balance, and overall enjoyment of the game. Your answers go directly to the development team, so don’t skip this step. Small feedback points you share could end up shaping the final version of the game for all players. Just note that all progress you make during early access will not carry over to the full public release. That includes rank, unlockable skins, and in-game currency. Don’t spend dozens of hours grinding for a top rank or rare items right now, as they’ll all be wiped when the game launches officially.
Tips to Boost Your Chances of Getting Deadlock Early Access Faster
The playtest waitlist is long, but there are a few simple things you can do to make your application more likely to be approved. The Deadlock development team prioritizes players who can give useful, relevant feedback on the game, so adjusting your application to fit that criteria can cut down your wait time significantly. First, make sure your Steam account is at least one year old, and has at least 10 hours of playtime in other MOBAs or Valve titles like Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, or Counter-Strike 2. The team looks for players who have experience with the genre, because they’re more likely to spot balance issues or bugs that new players might miss. If you don’t have playtime in those games, that doesn’t mean you won’t get accepted, but it can help your application stand out. Second, join the official Deadlock Discord server and participate in discussions regularly. The moderation team keeps an eye out for active, positive community members, and they sometimes hand out early access invites as a reward for contributing to the community. You don’t have to post every day, but joining conversations about character design or game mechanics can get you noticed. Third, turn on Steam notifications for the Deadlock store page. Sometimes the team opens up limited-time access slots that fill up in just a few hours, and getting an alert immediately when those slots go live can help you claim a spot before they’re gone. Finally, don’t create multiple Steam accounts to request access. The development team can easily detect duplicate accounts linked to the same IP address or payment method, and they will ban all your accounts from being eligible for early access if they catch you. It’s not worth the risk, even if you think it will double your chances of getting an invite.
The number of early access slots is increasing every week, with Valve adding around 20,000 new players to the playtest each batch right now. If you stick to the legitimate methods we covered, you’ll likely get access within a few months, if not sooner. Don’t waste your money or risk your account on scams, and take the time to fill out feedback forms once you get in to help make the game better for everyone. At the end of the day, learning how to get Deadlock early access doesn’t have to be complicated or risky, as long as you stick to official channels.