Deadlock hasn’t even released yet and it’s already got people talking. The third-person shooter, which blends slick gunplay with a fluid movement system of slides, dashes, double jumps and combos, has been catching plenty of attention. And now Shroud, one of the biggest names in streaming, has shared his take after grinding the game for more than nine hours straight.

Shroud’s High Praise for Deadlock and Concerns

Shroud didn’t hold back. He called Deadlock “still one of the best games ever made, just a matter of time,” and even went as far as saying it’s probably the best third-person shooter he’s ever played. That’s huge praise from someone who’s played just about everything in the FPS and competitive space.

But while he’s excited about the game’s potential, he’s also wary of one thing. In a clip that quickly made the rounds on Twitter, Shroud pointed out how the development build of Deadlock has been going through highs and lows. He explained that the testing stages have led to big surges in players, with Steam once peaking at over 160,000 concurrent players, before dropping down to much smaller numbers. For him, that swing could scare people away.

Shroud says the player count of Deadlock because of its development style may hurt the game

“a lot of people care so much about player counts” pic.twitter.com/nuubuHZve9

— Shroud Updates (@ShroudUpdate) August 26, 2025

“A lot of people care so much about player counts,” Shroud said. “They might not even play Deadlock when it comes out because of the development branch. But the game will be so good that it doesn’t matter. Eventually they’ll cave and play.”

Why Player Numbers Matter

That’s the core tension with Deadlock right now. In online games, player numbers matter. If queues get long and servers feel empty, people can be quick to label a game as dying before it even has the chance to grow. Many multiplayer titles have fallen into that trap where the perception of decline becomes reality.

Image Credit: VALVE

Lessons from Counter-Strike and Valheim

At the same time, history shows quality can break through. Counter-Strike didn’t dominate right away but grew into one of the most enduring shooters of all time thanks to its depth, community tournaments and steady updates. More recently, Valheim entered early access quietly before word of mouth, Twitch streams and viral clips pushed it into the spotlight with millions of sales. Development builds can fuel hype, creating passionate early communities that actually help a game succeed at launch.

When Could Deadlock Launch?

Shroud believes Deadlock will be one of those cases. He even joked about hoping the developers don’t take three more years to launch, suggesting that an early 2026 release could be a strong window, as long as it avoids clashing with juggernauts like GTA 6. His faith in the game is clear though. “It’s the same as before,” he said, “still one of the best games ever made.”

The Road Ahead for Deadlock

For now, all eyes are on Deadlock’s development and how it balances the perception of its player base with the quality of gameplay. If the core mechanics hold up and the devs can manage the hype, Shroud might be right. Deadlock could well end up being one of the most talked-about shooters of the next few years.

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