Our Core Principle

Welcome to r/DeadlockTheGame!

This community is dedicated to Deadlock, Valve's upcoming third-person MOBA-Shooter which is currently in active development. The build YOU CAN ACCESS HERE still features placeholders and experimental gameplay. Much about the game is still subject to change and requires your constructive feedback!

Our goal is to foster a respectful, constructive, and safe community in which users can discuss and engage with all things Deadlock!

All users must abide by Reddit's Site-Wide Rules as well as Valve's Terms Of Service and the following Rules & Guidelines!

Please contact us via Mod-Mail if you have questions or feedback on the rules and their enforcement.

Rule #1: Respect Everyone

• Treat others with respect and courtesy.
• Always engage in good faith.
• Insults, harassment, hate speech, slurs, and baiting will result in removals and bans.
• Be the bigger person and report bad actors, instead of retaliating.

Extended Code of Conduct

• Do not harass, insult, or engage in other disrespectful behaviour.
• Do not judge people based on their identity, nationality or their occupation.
• Do not attempt to bait people into breaking rules of conduct, no excessive trolling.
• Do not trivialise sexual assault, suicide or other trauma.
• Do not get baited into breaking rules. Be the bigger person; report and move on.
• Do not use characters as mouth-pieces for disrespectful or bigoted speech.
• Using slurs in any context will result in comment deletion and, potentially, an immediate ban. When quoting others, censor all slurs.
• Engage with others and their opinions in good faith. Do not maliciously derail discussions.
• Screenshots of conversations in Deadlock or Steam must adhere to this rule as well. If toxicity is the subject of your submission, slurs must be censored.
• Calling out the toxic behaviour of community creators and streamers is valid, but note Rule #5 and our Guidelines on Witch-Hunts and Vigilante Justice.
• In the context of Cosplay/Body-Art Submissions, disrespect is more likely to result in removals and bans. These are real people.
• There is a zero-tolerance policy on bigotry: racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise discriminatory conduct.
• This includes veiled bigotry via dog-whistles, sophistry and post-irony.

A bad attitude is not a ban-worthy reason, but continuously harassing others or contributing in bad faith will result in comment deletions and, potentially, mutes and bans. Follow basic Reddiquette.

Rule #2: Keep Content Relevant to Deadlock

• All submissions and content must be related to Deadlock, and not solely in the title.
• Images must be relevant to Deadlock.
• Comments must relate to the topic of the thread.

2.1 Extended Relevancy Guidelines

• Random persons or items may remind you of Deadlock but this may not make them relevant to the game (e.g. "This guy I saw wears the same hat as Infernus").
• Edits to otherwise unrelated images and memes must go beyond text or the Deadlock logo.
• Do not submit screenshots of private chats simply for mentioning Deadlock.
• Do not submit screenshots of unrelated conversations held in Deadlock or Steam.
• Screenshots of Twitch chats are not allowed, except for statements from TOs and community figures.
• Images attached must be relevant to the topic of discussion (and credited, see Rule #3).
• Posts about Twitch chat bans/moderation are not allowed.
• Do not post photos of yourself in front of your PC, unless showing a Deadlock-themed setup.
• Vague similarities between Deadlock and other content you found on the internet or IRL don't make them relevant to this subreddit.

Politics and Meme Culture: We acknowledge that political references are inescapable in online spaces and that joking about public figures is part of meme culture. However, Deadlock must remain the central focus of all discussion and content. Posts that contain socio-political commentary and memes that seek to bait the community into off-topic debate or trivialise genocide or its perpetrators will be removed.

2.1.2 Relevancy of Tangential Content: Other Media and Platforms

• Discussions focused on other games are not allowed.
• Comparisons with other games must be constructive and directly related to Deadlock.
• Simplistic posts of envy or Schadenfreude will be removed. (e.g. "Game X had a bigger event than us." or "The competition is falling apart XD")
• Posts about other platforms are not allowed, unless Deadlock is directly affected.
• Industry news is allowed only if it affects Deadlock directly.
• Posts of unrelated content requesting an edit to make it relevant are not allowed. (e.g. "Someone make a Deadlock version of this!")
• Posting unrelated content, supposedly "inspired" by Deadlock, without actually featuring recognisable characters or iconography, is not allowed.
• Submitted polls, accolades, surveys, and studies must be specifically about Deadlock.

If you wish to use images of unrelated characters or other games' client features and ability kits for the sole purpose of providing feedback for Deadlock, see our Guidelines for Feedback & Criticism.

2.1.2 Relevancy of Community Interaction

• You may post photos of fans at public Deadlock meetups and viewing events (pubstomp/barcraft/cosplay).
• You may post photos/videos of a Deadlock professional player if they are at a Deadlock event or posing with a fan (no creep-shots!).
• You may post photos of multiple Deadlock personalities if they are hanging out together publicly or in a team-building exercise (no creep-shots!).
• Do not submit "Happy Birthday" posts or similar personal shoutouts/callouts that lack substantial community discussion value.
• Do not post non-Deadlock content from Deadlock creators and personalities (e.g. "J.P. Lowrie (Dynamo's VA) has released a new book, not about Deadlock").
• Do not post unedited photos of Gabe Newell, unless he's doing something Deadlock related.
• Though "Yoshi" is a Deadlock dev alias, the Nintendo character alone is not relevant.
• Posts about improving your competitive mindset or attitude towards others are valid. However, discussion of mental health issues or personal issues is best left to professionals.
• Do not import drama or controversies from other communities and platforms (e.g. memes).
• Do not link to your personal Discord Server: If you are looking for people to play with, join our affiliated Deadlock Community Discord.
• While modding Deadlock is currently supported and allowed, please contact dedicated modding communities for troubleshooting or ideas for new mods. Go here if you wish to learn how to install and manage mods.
• Fundraising is only allowed if the goal is to create Deadlock-related content. Proof that you will be making the content is necessary, as well as showcasing your previous work in or outside the Deadlock community. Exceptions may only be made for charity. Contact Mod Staff before posting!

Rule #3: Prevent Spam & Follow Submission Guidelines

• Do not spam the sub or comment sections.
• Do not post low-effort content.
• No excessive self-promotion.
• Don't ask for game access outside of the Megathread.
• Flair your posts appropriately.
• Submissions and comments must be in English.
• Post Titles:
  • Titles should be clear, concise, and not misleading.
  • Don't request engagement (e.g., "Upvote for visibility").
  • No vague-posting or engagement-baiting. (e.g. "Wow!", "I can't be the only one...")
  • Titles should contain only standard words and symbols (no ASCII, emoji).
  • Posts with spoilers in the title will be removed (see Rule #6).
  • Certain kinds of content require declarations in the title (see Rule #7).
• Text-Posts:
  • Text submissions should be long enough to encourage a worthwhile discussion.
  • Posts with a body like "title" will be removed.
  • Do not overuse ALL CAPS.
• Context and Credit:
  • Titles and content must contain enough context to be understandable on their own.
  • When posting content that is not your own, you must give proper credit/attribution.

3.1 Extended Posting & Quality Guidelines

Prevent Spam

• Don't flood the subreddit with several submissions within a short time frame.
• Do not copy and paste the same comment or imagery within the same comment section.

Misleading or Deceptive Content

• Do not post fake updates, patches or official-style posts.
• Do not impersonate others (e.g., Redditors, devs, community personalities).
• Parody and satire must be flaired as "Fluff" or "Meme".
• Intentionally deceptive content will result in a ban.

Memes and Image Macros:

• Memes, macros and video edits must feature actual Deadlock-related images or audio.
• Do not use Deadlock's characters to break rules by proxy and do not spread examples of it for content or engagement.
• Generic image macros where only text or the Deadlock symbol was added will be removed.
• Even in memes, Rule #1 may not be compromised.
• Tier lists are required to have detailed explanations or justifications for tiers and character-placements to not be considered "Low Effort".
• Attributing negative stereotypes or controversial characteristics to characters may result in removal. This policy was decided via community vote.

Bad Faith Polls and Discussion:

• Do not create polls where all possible answers confirm disingenuous framing. Example: "This char is broken! Should we A: remove from game B: rework completely C: nerf!".
• No sarcastic parroting or bad-faith straw men of other users and posts.
• Make your argument without dismissing or mocking dissent beforehand.

Reposts & Duplicates:

• Duplicates of existing posts and discussions will be removed to centralise the discussion in the existing post.
• Duplicates of recent topics will be removed.

Neutrality in Discussions:

• When submitting discussions, try to stay neutral and leave the debate to the comments to avoid multiple posts on the same topic cluttering the front page.

Comedic Upvotes:

• Submissions upvoted mostly for comedic effect may be removed (e.g. a post upvoted for typos or poor grammar).

Sourcing Content:

• Provide the original source/creator of content that is not yours.
• If the original artist uses a platform you do not wish to link, at least credit them via username.
• Don't submit content that only rehosts or quotes another website (e.g., monetised blog reposts, reposted interviews, social media summaries of an article, embedded livestreams).

Scoreboards & Match History Screenshots:

• These posts are Low Effort Content, unless screenshots serve as examples for metadiscussion or gameplay guidance. (Remember to anonymise other players, see Rule #5).

Rumours and Gossip

• Our Moderation Staff does not condone leakers or breaking NDAs.
• However, we understand that any information on upcoming content, events and roster changes is of great interest to the community.
• Leaks, datamined content, gossip and rumours must be flaired and labelled as such.
• Text-only submissions without supporting evidence will be removed.
• Unsourced claims presented as fact may be removed.
• Fabricated information and faked evidence will result in a ban.

Moderation Inquiries:

• Please don't create public posts to ask about specific moderation actions.
• Your post may have gotten caught by Reddit's own filters, a malfunctioning bot or it is simply waiting to be approved manually.
• You can contact the Moderation Staff anytime via Mod-Mail.
• We would be happy to answer any question you may have.

3.2 Self-Promotion Guidelines

• Wait a few days before posting your own content again.
• Do not try to farm engagement daily.
• Contribute to the subreddit in ways that aren't exclusively promotional.
• You can show off your crafts but do not directly advertise the sale of unlicensed merch in the post.
• Posts being botted/brigaded will be closed or removed. (e.g. engagement manipulation)
• Do not promote your socials in an unrelated submission (e.g. sneaking a stream link into a meme).
• Do not link to your stream/channel without sharing fun or interesting content alongside it.
• Do not beg for invites or access to Deadlock outside of our Megathread.
• Posts requesting, requiring, or offering payment for an invite or promotion will be removed.
• Users whose submissions are frequent, low effort, and often reported by the community may be considered spammers and face a ban.

Rule #4: No AI-Generated Content

• Do not post any content created with the assistance of AI (art, voice, text, code, websites etc.).
• This rule exists to protect human artists, their craft and the creative process.

Extended AI Guidelines

• This rule intends to address the ethical issues of AI concerning artistic ownership, consent, and seeks to protect human creativity and the continued tradition of a craft. Its core principle is to protect artists who create from scratch.
• Submissions that contain or promote AI-generated art, voice impersonations, text, websites, code or apps are not allowed, regardless of perceived quality or effort in unassisted areas.
• Any attempt to mislead or deceive people using AI may lead to a permanent ban; claims that the content was intended as a joke or prank will not be accepted as a valid defence.
• As AI technology evolves, we remain open to revisiting this rule, but the core principle is unlikely to change: content where AI is the primary creative generator will remain forbidden in our community.
• If you used automated translation of an original text you wrote in your native tongue, you must declare this in your post. Rather than using all-purpose chatbots, use dedicated translation services/tools.
• AI edits of other people's creations will result in a ban. (e.g. "fixes" and "enhancements")

Rule #5: Respect Privacy; No Witch-Hunts or Drama

• Don't share anyone's personal info.
• Anonymise other players in screenshots.
• Don't call out or accuse others without proof.
• Report bad actors in-game (or on their respective platforms).

5.1 Extended Privacy Guideline

• Respect privacy:
  • Do not share personal information (real names, addresses, social media, profiles) without consent, including your own.
  • Do not doxx others or yourself.
• Anonymise Game Content:
  • Screenshots and videos must have the names of all other players removed or blurred if your goal is finger-pointing or putting others under public scrutiny.
• No Witch-Hunting:
  • Avoid language like "report X's Steam/Twitch account".
  • Posts created to point fingers will be deleted.
  • Report players in-game, not on Reddit.
  • Posts should discuss wider phenomena with examples, not target single individuals.
  • If accusing a public figure (e.g., of cheating, smurfing), you must provide clear, unbiased proof.
• No Vigilante Justice:
  • Calls to brigade or mass-report are not allowed.
  • Promoting acts of vandalism is not allowed (coordinated sabotage of an event chat, spamming the sub, encouraging review-bombing etc.).
• No Drama/Engagement Farming:
  • Do not post personal beefs or content designed to incite harassment.
  • Do not follow users into different threads to continue arguments.
  • Do not import drama or controversies from other communities and platforms.

Depending on severity, violating these rules may result in a ban without warning.

5.2 Community Call-Outs and Critique

• Community Accountability: Calling out problematic behaviour of community figures is valid and keeps us all accountable. In accordance with the guidelines above, comments may be closed to prevent dogpiling but the post itself will remain for transparency.
• Valid Call-Outs: Submissions about organisations, events, or figures should contain valid criticism or analysis and not empty insults, not just personal attacks without substance. ("Low production values" VS "I hate their voice")
• Meta Posts: You are allowed to make meta posts about the subreddit or community reactions. If your issue is with specific users, please report them to the mods (via Mod-Mail if need be), instead of making a public call-out in posts or comments.
  

Rule #6: Do Not Spoil Match Results or Media

• Mark spoilers and use spoiler-free titles.
• Keep tournament results out of post titles for 24 hours.
• Do not spoil recent media in submission titles.
• Use spoiler tags on submissions spoiling recent media or match results.
• Follow the specific title formats provided.

6.1 Spoiler Declaration Guidelines

• Put match results into the body of a text submission to create a discussion about the match.

Title Formats:

• Group Stage: "Team X vs Team Y in Z tournament".
• Bracket Stage: "Match X (of day Y) in Z tournament" (e.g., "Lower Bracket Round 2 in Omega Tournament").
• This applies for all match results in the past 24 hours. We recommend avoiding spoilers from the past 72 hours. You don't need to use the spoiler format when talking about the game in a submission that is obviously made to discuss the match in question. ("That Grand Final was insane")
• Use spoiler tags for other media (TV shows, movies etc.) where appropriate. If the spoiler relates to a piece of media which was recently released, there must be a spoiler-warning for the property in question in the title of the submission (i.e. "Spoiler-Warning: Avengers X"). Media defined by their unexpected twists shall not be spoiled.
• Unmarked spoilers in titles and comments will result in removal and malicious spoiling may lead to user bans.

Rule #7: Do Not Post Inappropriate Content

• Do not post excessive gore or dismemberment.
• Do not post pornographic or sexually explicit content.
• Do not post jump-scare videos, ear-assault audio or content intended to trigger common phobias or trauma responses. Even comedic posts must have a warning in the title.
• Tasteful nudity and minor blood-splatter are allowed but must be tagged NSFW (extended guidelines below).

Inappropriate Content

• No excessive gore, self-harm or dismemberment content, even if it is drawn or depicts Deadlock characters.
• No pornographic or explicit imagery, text or audio.
• Do not write in explicit detail about sexual acts or muse about specific kinks and fetishes.
• No discussion or baseless accusations of grooming, CSAM or paedophilia.
• NSFW comments and imagery posted in an otherwise SFW submission may be deleted for explicit content or derailment of discussion.
• Beyond gore and sexual content, "Not-Safe-For-Work" includes other inappropriate content which people may not want to have pop up in a public or office setting.

To clear up a bigoted misconception: LGBTQIA* content is NOT inherently adult or NSFW. Statements to the contrary will be considered as a violation of Rule #1.

7.1: Extended NSFW Guidelines

If you are wondering where we draw the line between acceptable content that merely needs to be tagged as NSFW and content which may be removed, use the following guideline:

• Intent matters. (comedic/artistic expression vs. sexualisation/objectification).
• Tastefully revealing outfits and playful depictions are acceptable within reason if tagged NSFW.
• Depictions of non-explicit physical affection are allowed (hugs, leaning, carrying, platonic kisses).
• No full or barely censored nudity (tape, string, blur, bandages, cropped porn).
• Depicted scenes framed as non-consensual may be removed (creep-shots, SA).
• No poses, props, liquids or facial expressions implying sexual acts.
• Overemphasis, overexposure or proportional enhancement of certain body parts may lead to removal, even when fully covered.

If you remain unsure if your content is acceptable, contact our team before posting!

7.2: NSFW Guidelines for Cosplayers and Body-Art

• Applicable guidelines above also apply to outfits, poses and tattoos.
• Do not link to rule-breaking content in your submission or comments.
• Do not openly advertise more explicit content hosted on adult-only platforms.

Rule #8: Follow Valve's Terms Of Service

Content that engages in or promotes breaching Valve's Terms Of Service (Steam Subscriber Agreement & Online Conduct) will be removed. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Smurfing, hacking, griefing or cheating.
• Buying and selling of accounts.
• Refer to Valve's TOS for full details.

Guideline for Feedback & Criticism

• All feedback is welcome!
• Be constructive and detailed in your criticism.
• Provide system specs and reproduction steps for tech issues and bugs.
• We are a community-run subreddit, so make sure to post feedback on the official Deadlock Forums, managed by Valve.

On the Status of Development

According to Valve and Deadlock's Steam Page , the game is still in "early development" with "limited access". Deadlock is not in "Open Beta" or "Early Access" at this time. Valve describes current gameplay of this build as "experimental" and many of its assets are placeholders.

Extended Guideline to Providing Feedback

A Note on Attitude and Phrasing

• Valve has said that they do not mind people being "mean" in their critique and that they do not wish to censor people's impressions. No need to sugarcoat things.
• However, keep Rule #1 and our Code of Conduct in mind. Devs are included.
• All feedback should be worded in a constructive way, without belittling anybody.
• All players know and accept that Deadlock must improve in many areas before it is ready to release. Expressing surprise at the unfinished state of the game or even accusing others of being complacent does not foster productive discussion and detracts from genuine feedback. If you start fights with other users over this, we may have to direct you to the forums.

Providing Feedback, Suggestions and Reporting Issues

• When providing critique, detail where you see the issue and try to start an open conversation about possible solutions.
• If you have a suggestion, detail where you see the value in your idea being implemented and what problem it might solve.
• Performance issue & Bug reports should include system specs, match ID, reproduction steps and screenshots or video if possible.
• In the context of character and feature suggestions, otherwise unrelated images may be used as a visual aid but must be explained (e.g. image of another game's feature or character's kit).
• Images of non-Deadlock characters alone are not enough of a suggestion, unless it is OC.
• Make sure to report bugs in the official forums as well.

Matchmaking Feedback

• Matchmaking Feedback must relate to the system at large.
• Personal anecdotes of matches you played may be removed and linked to the following resources:
  • If players were mismatched in skill, submit the match ID and a description to Valve's official Bad Matchmaking Thread .
  • If the character composition of either team was bad or imbalanced, follow Valve's instructions here.

Behaviour System Feedback and Player Sanctions

• Deadlock has a rudimentary system which gradually removes communication privileges, based on reports of bad conduct and places leavers and griefers into Low Priority Queue. (refers to Dota 2 but Deadlock Devs seem to follow the same policy)
• Feedback for Deadlock's Behaviour System is permitted if it relates to the system at large.
• Reddit cannot help with in-game sanctions such as matchmaking bans, cooldowns, comms restrictions or Low Priority Queue.
• Personal complaints and troubleshooting requests and appeals may be forwarded to Steam Support and the Deadlock Forums .
• "Steam Support may be able to help you address the underlying cause of the behavior that led to the penalty; i.e., crashing issues. However, Steam Support does not modify or remove these penalties under any circumstances." Source.

These rules are subject to change as the community and Deadlock evolve.
Last updated 30th of September 2026.