If you’re a fan of fast-paced competitive team games, you’ve almost certainly heard buzz about Valve’s upcoming 5v5 FPS-MOBA hybrid Deadlock, and are likely wondering how to get into Deadlock Alpha before its full public release. Closed testing phases for Valve titles are notoriously coveted, as they let players try new games months early, help shape development, and get a leg up on mechanics before the wider player base jumps in. Unfortunately, the high demand for access has also led to a flood of scams, fake key sellers, and sketchy download links targeting eager fans. This guide only covers legitimate, verified methods to apply for access, so you don’t waste time or risk your account security chasing fake offers.
How to Get Into Deadlock Alpha: First Steps to Sign Up Officially
The only legitimate way to apply for Deadlock Alpha access is through Valve’s official sign up page hosted on Steam, no third party sites or sellers have valid access to give out. If you’re still figuring out how to get into Deadlock Alpha, start by making sure your Steam account is in good standing first. You’ll need an account with no active VAC bans from the last two years, a verified email address, and a public profile so Valve can review your gaming history. The sign up survey takes less than five minutes to complete, and asks basic questions about your average weekly play time, what competitive games you play regularly, your PC hardware specs, and if you’ve participated in previous Valve game testing programs.
Be 100% honest when filling out the survey, because Valve cross-references all your answers with your public Steam activity. For example, if you say you play 20+ hours of competitive FPS games a week but your Steam history shows you only play single-player indie titles, your application will be automatically rejected. You only need to submit one application per Steam account, submitting multiple forms won’t speed up your review and will likely get your entry flagged as spam.
Proven Tactics to Boost Your Chances of Receiving an Invite
While there’s no hack to guarantee you access, these tips will drastically improve your odds if you’re trying to figure out how to get into Deadlock Alpha without wasting time on scams. First, active participation in official Valve game communities goes a long way. Join the official Deadlock Discord server, participate in constructive discussions about game mechanics, and if you play other Valve titles like CS2 or Dota 2, make sure you submit detailed bug reports when you run into issues. Valve prioritizes testers who have a track record of giving helpful feedback, not just people who want to play a new game early.
Next, link your Steam account to relevant gaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and the Steam Community forum. Valve regularly reserves a portion of alpha invites for content creators, even small creators with 1,000+ followers who focus on competitive FPS or MOBA content. You don’t need to be a big streamer to qualify, but having a public history of creating gaming content will make you stand out from the thousands of generic applications. You should also opt in to Steam beta testing through your account settings, as this flags you as a user who is comfortable testing unfinished software and reporting issues.
There are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid at all costs when applying:
- Don’t pay for supposed Deadlock Alpha keys or access codes -- all official invites are 100% free, and no third party has permission to sell access
- Don’t fill out multiple applications with different Steam accounts, as Valve will flag duplicate entries and reject all of them
- Don’t lie about your gaming experience or hardware specs on the sign up survey, as Valve verifies this data against your Steam account activity
- Don’t download any "Deadlock Alpha" installers from untrusted sites, as these almost always contain malware or phishing tools designed to steal your Steam credentials
What to Do After You Submit Your Alpha Application
Once you hit submit on your application, the waiting game begins. First, keep an eye on the email address linked to your Steam account -- all official invites are sent directly to this address, and will include a unique link to activate the game on your Steam account. Invites are sent out in waves every two to three weeks, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays according to recent community reports from players who have already received access. If you don’t get an invite in the first few waves, don’t panic. Valve starts with a small pool of testers to work out critical server and gameplay bugs, and expands the pool steadily as the alpha becomes more stable.
If you’re still waiting for access after a few weeks, don’t assume you’ve been rejected entirely -- Valve is constantly expanding the test pool for anyone who followed the steps for how to get into Deadlock Alpha. You can check the official Deadlock Discord for announcements about new invite waves, but don’t spam moderators or community managers asking for access. Spamming staff will get you muted or banned from the server, and will automatically disqualify you from receiving an invite. Keep your Steam account active by playing competitive games regularly, as Valve prioritizes active players for new test waves to make sure they get feedback from people who will actually spend time testing the game.
What to Expect Once You Get Into Deadlock Alpha
Getting an alpha invite is exciting, but it’s important to remember that the alpha is not a finished product. You will run into frequent crashes, unbalanced character abilities, server lag, and missing features, and that’s exactly why you’re there. Your main job as an alpha tester is to submit detailed bug reports and give constructive feedback about gameplay balance, performance, and quality of life features. The alpha currently has 18 playable characters, two game modes, and cross-region server support, but Valve adds new content and fixes every week based on tester feedback.
All alpha testers are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) when they first launch the game, which means you can’t stream, record, or share screenshots of the alpha unless you’re explicitly given permission as an approved content creator. Violating the NDA will result in immediate removal from the alpha, and you may be banned from participating in any future Valve game testing programs. It’s also important to note that all progress, unlocks, and cosmetic items you earn in the alpha will not carry over to the full public release, so don’t waste time grinding for ranks or items that will disappear when the test phase ends.
At the end of the day, learning how to get into Deadlock Alpha is all about following official steps, avoiding scams, and being patient while you wait for an invite. There’s no guaranteed way to get access right away, but sticking to the legitimate methods we outlined will give you the best possible shot at joining the test early. Even if you don’t get in during the alpha phase, Valve is expected to roll out a public beta in the coming months, so you won’t have to wait too long to try the game for yourself. Just make sure you don’t fall for any scams in the meantime, and keep an eye on official Valve channels for updates about new test waves.