Now, Valve has formally lifted the lid on the shooter, with a Steam page going live for it. As per the Steam page, Deadlock can only be accessed by those who have received a friend invite from its current playtesters- though apparently the game is still attracting players in droves. As per SteamDB, at the time of writing, it has over 45,000 concurrent players, with a peak of over 89,000 earlier in the day.

It’s worth pointing out that Deadlock is described as being still quite early in development, with Valve mentioning explicitly on its Steam page that the game is currently using “lots of temporary art and experimental gameplay”- so keep that in mind as you dive in. Things are very likely going to change for the shooter in the weeks and months ahead.

In contrast, another recently launched hero shooter, Concord, has unfortunately had quite a torrid launch. Read more on that through here.

Valve’s Deadlock

Between gameplay, hero designs, and alleged invites for a test, it’s almost like Valve’s Deadlock is due for a reveal soon. Any new title from the House of Half-Life is worth noting, though this is allegedly more of a 6v6 hero shooter with MOBA elements. As with Dota 2, you farm mobs for currency and buy items to strengthen your hero while fighting the enemy team. It’s intriguing, but with Insider Gaming reporting development being in the alpha stage, it may be a while before launch.

Sonic Frontiers 2

Following the success of Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka reiterated that it would serve as the “cornerstone” for future titles. Fortunately, a sequel seems to be the course for Sega, with insider Daniel Richtman reporting that it is indeed in the works. Potential announcement this year, followed by a launch in late 2025? It could happen.

Fallout 3 Remaster

A remaster for Fallout 3 found in Microsoft’s document to the FTC. There haven’t been too many other reports regarding this, and since the document is from 2020, plans could have changed. A remaster for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was also specified, with rumors from last year indicating it’s in development at Virtuos, so that may have taken priority. Considering this was Bethesda’s first Fallout title and superior to Fallout 4 in several ways, a remaster with quality-of-life features and improved gunplay would be ideal.

Dishonored 3

Yet another title listed in Microsoft’s leaked document, Dishonored 3 may be less likely than the others. Arkane Lyon is busy with Marvel’s Blade, and Arkane Austin has shut down. The latter was reportedly pitching for a new title in the Dishonored series, but it’s unknown if this may have been Dishonored 3. As long as Arkane Lyon exists, there’s always a possibility, but again, it may be a long way off.

Project Shaolin

In development at Brass Lion Entertainment, the rumored Project Shaolin is based on the Wu-Tang Clan. It’s allegedly an “anime-inspired” third-person action RPG with melee combat, an “extensive loot system” and four-player co-op support. Of course, the group is also composing the soundtrack, but there have been few follow-up reports, let alone an official announcement. Better late than never, though, and the Xbox Games Showcase could be the ideal place for a reveal.

Next Killer Instinct

Yet another rumor gathering dust since October 2021 is the next Killer Instinct, initially reported by Xbox Era’s Nick Baker. Windows Central’s Jez Corden also heard the “vaguest of unsubstantiated rumors” that one of Bandai Namco’s fighting game teams is involved, though he couldn’t verify the same. Iron Galaxy did return to update Killer Instinct (2013), adding 4K support on Xbox Series X/S, ranked crossplay and extensive rebalancing for characters, but there hasn’t been official word on a sequel.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

There’s been a distinct lack of DOOM since 2020, but id Software will seemingly address this very soon. Found in a Microsoft document during its trial with the FTC as DOOM Year Zero, the title is allegedly called DOOM: The Dark Ages and set in a “medieval-inspired Doom world.” An announcement is seemingly inbound at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9th, with insider NateTheHate noting a PS5 release alongside Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Gears of War Remastered Collection

One of the longer-running rumors on this list is a remastered compilation of Gears of War 1 to 3. XboxEra co-founder first hinted at its existence in 2022, suggesting it’s getting the “Master Chief Collection” treatment. While no announcement occurred, Baker indicated it was still happening in January 2023, with Jez Corden of Windows Central and The Verge’s Tom Warren seemingly backing him. Naturally, there was no announcement last year. With Gears 6 highly rumored for this year’s showcase, could the remastered collection potentially surface? Here’s hoping.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Remake

Rumored last year by Kotaku, a remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is allegedly in the works. Plans were in the “earliest stages”, but it seems they’ve advanced further, as Insider Gaming reported it as codename Obsidian, one of the many upcoming Assassin’s Creed titles. It may be a while before its existence is even acknowledged, but if you’re going to remake a title in the franchise, it’s hard to go wrong with Black Flag.

Marvel’s Venom

A game that was revealed through an unfortunate ransomware attack on Insomniac, though in all honesty, it’s not out of left field. Insomniac said it would listen to fans regarding a potential Venom title (the mechanics in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also lent credence to the same). According to reports by various publications, it will be a shorter experience, akin to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. “When” it will be announced is an entirely different question, but it wouldn’t be surprising if news arrived later this year.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 3

After the conclusion of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, a third title seems likely, and in all honesty, this is a given. After millions of copies sold, why wouldn’t they be developing a sequel? Maybe a Logan cameo is on the cards, especially since they take place in the same universe. Who knows? Time will tell, as always.

Marvel’s X-Men

After some really good X-Men games on the PS2 followed by Wolverine Origins on 7^th gen consoles, there has hardly been any great X-Men game. The series has been severely unrepresented in the MCU over the years (which is admittedly improving). Nevertheless, potentially playing as Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Gray, Rogue, Nightcrawler and more on a single team sounds fun, especially if it supports co-op. As reported by many publications, it’s rumored to be in development and will likely be a PlayStation exclusive.

Resident Evil 9

The back and forth on Resident Evil 9 rumors has been interesting to witness over the past several days. Initially, insider Dusk Golem reported an internal delay. Then it changed to an imminent reveal and release in January 2025. This changed again to no announcement in the Summer and a delay in late 2025 or 2026. It’s still worth looking forward to, but the reveal may be much further off than initially believed.

Resident Evil Zero Remake

Remember when rumors circulated about five Resident Evil titles currently in the works, which included a Resident Evil 1 remake? That’s allegedly not happening, per Dusk Golem. Instead, Resident Evil Zero is reportedly getting one. There’s some skepticism after the whole Resident Evil 9 flip-flopping. Thankfully VGC’s Andy Robinson and IGN corroborated the claims, so these remakes are looking more than likely.

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica Remake

A remake for Resident Evil – Code: Veronica is also allegedly in the works. There’s not much to add, aside from IGN and VGC corroborating its development, but after years of hoping, it’s good to hear some indication that a remake is coming.

Silent Hill 2 Remake Release Date

Whether it’s posters allegedly showing up in GameStop, the ESRB rating the title or Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb reporting an appearance at the rumored PlayStation Showcase and The Snitch seemingly corroborating, Silent Hill 2’s time is nigh. Bloober Team’s remake could get new gameplay and a release date, with CEO Piotr Babieno outright saying last month that the latter is happening “soon”. Based on all the evidence, launching this Fall or Winter wouldn’t be surprising. Perhaps in time for the constantly rumored…

PS5 Pro Reveal

With nearly everything about it leaked save for the design and price, it’s almost a given that Sony could finally unveil the PS5 Pro. The release window is still a bit iffy – Grubb reported a September 2024 release, while Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson indicated a Holiday launch, potentially slipping due to the lack of big first-party titles before claiming a Fall release window. Either way, with an alleged 28 percent more memory bandwidth, 33.5 TFLOPs GPU and support for Sony’s new supersampling tech, it could make a splash if Silent Hill 2 remake is a showcase title. As for when it could be announced, the PlayStation Showcase makes sense, but it could very well be at the Sony Corporate Group Meeting occurring soon.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Release Date and New Gameplay

Along with the Silent Hill 2 remake, PlayStation did this wonderful thing in January, where it outright said Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is coming in 2024. There’s been no denial from Konami nor acceptance, only the assurance last March that development is going well, thank you for asking, etc. However, it also promised an upcoming video presentation with “bigger announcements.” What better time than this Summer to provide an updated gameplay reveal and release date?

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Announcement

There have been some rumors about Ghost of Tsushima 2, though nothing as of late as we approach Sony’s alleged PlayStation Showcase this month. Nevertheless, the time feels ripe, with Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut available on PC and the movie (directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame) coming up. If it happens, expect limited to no gameplay and a potential release window in 2025.

Next Astro Bot Reveal

Of course, the other possible reveal is the next Astro Bot game. Team Asobi has been quiet since announcing work on its “most ambitious game yet”, and Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb reports that the new title could finally release this year (though he clubbed it in with Sony’s “smaller first-party titles”). The Snitch would seemingly corroborate its appearance at the next PlayStation Showcase, whenever it may be, so it could very well be Astro’s big break, especially with Sony not releasing any new titles for its bigger first-party franchises until April 2025 onwards.

God of War Ragnarok PC Announcement

Another seemingly inevitable announcement is God of War Ragnarok coming to PC. The rumor comes from none other than Dealabs’ billbil-kun, who has an impeccable record with leaks. They outright said an announcement is coming this month, adding more fire to rumors of a PlayStation Showcase this month. Regardless, given Sony’s habit of launching first-party titles on PC a few years after their PlayStation debuts, it would be surprising to see it out in 2024. Fingers crossed and whatnot.

Gears 6 Announcement

Speaking of “right timing,” Microsoft announcing the next Gears of War at its Xbox Games Showcase would be ideal in many ways. Fortunately, Grubb reported something happening this Summer with Gears 6. The Verge’s Tom Warren agreed and then outright said in a later report that there would be an announcement at the show. If that’s not enough, the voice of JD Fenix, actor Liam McIntyre, said on Twitter that Microsoft and The Coalition will “tell us all in June” regarding certain story spoilers.

Perfect Dark Gameplay Reveal

The Xbox Games Showcase could also mark an appearance for Perfect Dark. Announced in 2020 with nary a bit of gameplay or details since and plenty of concerning rumors and reports, insider Nate the Hate “fully expects” it to appear at the showcase (with Grubb also hearing that it could show up). That would fit with Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty being “cautiously confident” in June 2023 about a gameplay deep dive arriving by late 2024.

State of Decay 3 Gameplay Reveal

The other title potentially getting a deep dive is State of Decay 3, Undead Labs’ next chapter in the survival sandbox zombie series. Also announced in 2020 with little to no updates in terms of gameplay since, its developer saw allegations of negligence in 2022, which reportedly affected development. Nevertheless, Jez Corden of Windows Central remarked recently that it’s coming along quite well, so perhaps we’ll finally see an update at the Xbox showcase.

Game Pass Price Hike Announcement

Another more unfortunate rumor doing the rounds is that of Game Pass getting a price hike. The Verge’s Tom Warren reported on it. Xbox president Sarah Bond would then confirm Activision’s titles coming to the service on day one. Even more rumors surfaced afterwards, with insider NateDrake claiming that new tiers are coming. There will also allegedly be changes in “the form of pricing and a tier change.” Regardless of those plans, a Game Pass price increase seems inevitable, especially given how subscriber counts haven’t been soaring lately.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date Announcement

The best part about so many upcoming events is that Hollow Knight: Silksong could appear at almost anyone. That ups the chances of a potential new trailer and maybe a release date announcement. Does that mean multiple chances to be disappointed as well? Sure, but with the title rated in South Korea, Australia and the US, it would be weird to get nothing in return. Either way, it’s been over five years since the announcement trailer, Team Cherry. Just…please, anything.

Borderlands 4 Reveal

2K Games confirmed that Borderlands 4 was in active development after Gearbox’s acquisition by Take-Two but rumors were already claiming that it saw a shake-up in leadership. The publishing label confirmed a reveal for the “next iteration” in one of its “biggest and most beloved franchises” at Summer Game Fest. Potential Borderlands 4 announcement and gameplay? It would be the safe bet, for sure.

Mafia 4 Announcement

However, there’s also a chance it could be Hanger 13’s long-rumored Mafia 4. Leaker Kurakasis claimed last month that Take-Two had begun “preparations for an announcement regarding the Mafia series.” Allegedly developed on Unreal Engine 5 and serving as a prequel to the series with Don Salieri as the protagonist, it could be the big reveal for Summer Game Fest.

Sonic X Shadow Generations Announcement

Sega is confirmed as a partner for Summer Game Fest, and while there’s plenty it could discuss, news on Sonic X Shadow Generations seems likely. The remaster, features a new campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog. A new trailer and release date seems likely.

Sonic Heroes Remake Announcement

While Sonic X Shadow Generations may be the main attraction, Sega could announce another remake in the series. According to Nintendo Universe, it’s Sonic Heroes, allegedly developed on Unreal Engine 5 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Whether Summer Game Fest is the place or not, it would garner the most attention.

Metro 4 Reveal

While a prequel to Metro 2033 sounds great, some fans were doubtless disappointed that Metro Awakening is a VR-exclusive title. Perhaps to quell some of that, publisher Deep Silver confirmed that “development continues separately at 4A Games on the next mainline installment of the Metro series.” Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson reported last year in February that it was “well into development” and “fully playable.” Even if Deep Silver reveals the release date for Awakening at Summer Game Fest (where it’s a partner), it wouldn’t be odd to see Metro 4 get a short teaser.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay Reveal

The developer has confirmed updates on its major releases for this year, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws. With pre-orders and various details for the former out in the wild, it seems a given that there will be a gameplay showcase. If coincidence isn’t enough, Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson outright reported this would be the case, with hands-on impressions going live on June 12th.

Valve’s Deadlock

Between all the leaked screenshots, gameplay and details, it feels like Valve is gearing up to announce Deadlock. The alleged 6v6 hero shooter is in the alpha stage and features 19 characters, with the usual MOBA roles of tanks, healers and damage dealers. While no release windows have circulated, there’s every possibility that Valve drops the announcement out of nowhere and opens up registrations for a closed alpha.

Monster Hunter Wilds – New Gameplay and Release Window

When discussing predictions, Monster Hunter Wilds getting some gameplay and a possible release window is probably the safest bet. The developer already confirmed new details this Summer, and as a partner at Summer Game Fest, it only makes sense to at least provide a trailer. It could then tout more information at the next Showcase or a Monster Hunter Wilds Digital Event later in June. It makes too much sense not to happen.

Kingdom Hearts 4 New Trailer

As odd as it seems, Kingdom Hearts 4 could appear in the upcoming Summer showcases, though which one is the question. Leaker Daniel Richtman recently revealed that it would launch sometime next year. If that’s the case, an upcoming reveal doesn’t sound too far fetched, especially with the Kingdom Hearts series recently becoming available on Steam.

Wonder Woman Update

Among the many publishers confirmed for the Summer Game Fest is WB Games. We haven’t heard anything about Monolith Productions’ Wonder Woman since December 2021 – outside of the publisher denying it’s a live-service title and a job listing for WB Games Montreal revealing that it’s supporting development. Perhaps this year’s showcase could finally be the time, especially if Warner Bros. Discovery wants a big release for the fiscal year.

Starfield: Shattered Space Reveal and Release Date

Starfield’s first paid expansion, Shattered Space, was already confirmed to launch this year and receive new details. However, The Verge’s Tom Warren reported that it would not only appear at the Xbox Games Showcase but receive a release date (allegedly for September). Redditors also spotted references in its May update video to House Var’uun, a faction that didn’t appear in the base game but whom one of your companions follows. Whatever its nature, expect it to appear all the same.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Release Date

Likewise, there’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Microsoft’s next big first-party title coming this year. MachineGames’ action-adventure is reportedly launching in December, per The Verge, so some new gameplay and an announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase seems a given.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Trailer

This one’s a bit of a wildcard, not only because Skydance New Media showcased in-game scenes during the State of Unreal at GDC in March, but also because it has a 2025 release window. The developer isn’t listed for Summer Game Fest, though the next round of partners could contain its name. If so, perhaps there will be gameplay and the announcement of platforms.

New Xbox Hardware Announcement

Other first-party games allegedly coming to PS5, potential Game Pass price hikes – Microsoft has a lot on its plate, rumors-wise. However, one confirmed bit is that it will unveil “some exciting stuff coming out in hardware.” It’s unlikely to be the next Xbox, which Microsoft touts as delivering “the largest technical leap” in a generation, but maybe it’s the rumored mid-gen refresh leaked in documents during its FTC trial. Perhaps it’s the new all-digital white Xbox Series X, whose images have been circulating. Whatever it may be, an announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase would make sense.

Crimson Desert New Trailer and Release Window

Remember Crimson Desert, Black Desert developer Pearl Abyss’s ambitious single-player action RPG? It seems that development is complete, and marketing reportedly will kick off in the coming months, per leaker Lunatic Ignus. Targeting a Q1 2025 release, there’s every chance it could appear at Summer Game Fest, especially since its first trailer was at The Game Awards 2020.

Resident Evil 9 Announcement

Pragmata may be in limbo, but it could be gearing up to reveal the next mainline Resident Evil. Reportedly launching in January 2025 per leaker Dusk Golem, it allegedly has the series’ largest development time frame and budget. None of that will stop it from being a monster success, and though it could be unveiled at Summer Game Fest, it wouldn’t be remiss to see it appear during Sony’s rumored PlayStation Showcase.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Gameplay and Release Date

BioWare and Electronic Arts confirmed a full reveal for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf in Summer 2024, and based on reports by Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, a new trailer could drop around Summer Game Fest. Even more interestingly, it’s seemingly launching this year. The publisher revealed recently that it has two “unannounced” titles releasing this fiscal year, with Grubb noting that Dreadwolf is one of them. Whether it arrives this year remains to be seen. For now, we just want to see some extended gameplay.

Splinter Cell Remake Update

Announced in 2021, Splinter Cell remake could be due for…something at Forward. There’s not much to go on, save for the developer changing its Facebook page header and profile picture to Sam Fisher’s signature NV goggles, but you never know. As for the nature of the reveal, your guess is as good as ours.

New Ghost Recon Reveal

Then there’s the next Ghost Recon, rumored way back in 2022 and allegedly launching in 2025 or 2026. Codenamed Project Over, it’s reportedly a first-person shooter, per Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson. If the Splinter Cell remake could get an update at Forward, the next Ghost Recon seems just as possible.

Now, it appears Deadlock has a page on SteamDB. Spotted by users on Reddit, a Deadlock page can be found on the third-party website that tracks Steam’s backend, and shows that the app currently also has hundreds of people in-game. SteamDB owner Pavel Djundik seems to have indicated on Twitter that that is indeed Deadlock’s legitimate page, and that the in-game people are testers who are currently testing the game.

Recently, a leak also claimed to showcase early development footage of playable characters from Deadlock, though not all of them may show up in the final game. Read more on that through here.

More details on the game have continued to filter through in leaks since those initial details have emerged. For instance, what seems to be very early development footage showing a number of playable characters from the game seems to have been shared on Twitter by user @zvis_ceral. A total of 12 characters are shown with varying designs, from Slork, who wears a t-rex skull on his head, to the boomerang-wielding humanoid tiger Kali, to the warlock-like Spectre. 

The leak notes that the footage showcased is work-in-progress footage from early stages of the game’s development, which means some of the names or even entire characters it shows might not make it into the final game- so keep that in mind.

As per known Valve insider Tyler McVicker, the company is working on a 6v6 hero shooter called Deadlock. As per the leaker, the title has been in the works since 2018, and over the course of its development, it has allegedly also been known as Neon Prime and, prior to that, Citadel. Screenshots and details related to the game have also been spreading online following a recent private playtest.

Reportedly, Deadlock will be set in a world that mixes elements of fantasy and steampunk, from robots to magicians to floating grindrails that players will be able to move about on, similar to BioShock Infinite. The game will feature hero designs inspired by Dota 2, while its competitive shooter gameplay will also be married with tower defense and strategy mechanics.

Valve has said in the past that it has multiple games in development, though it remains to be seen how long it’ll be before the company begins officially unveiling them, and whether Deadlock will indeed be among them. It does look like the project has been in the works for a while though, so hopefully it won’t be too long before it’s officially announced.

‘In Singularity, you will fight your way through an ever-shifting environment haunted with time ravaged creatures, while sudden time waves hurl you back and forth between 1950 and the present day. Use your wits and the perfect weapon, the Time Manipulation Device, to unravel the conspiracy on the remote island of Katorga 12.’

Check it out below.

Pretty damn cool, no?

Singularity releases 6/29/2010 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.