Is There an Anti-Cheat System in Deadlock?

Valve’s upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock, is already facing issues with in-game cheaters. What measures do the developers have in place to combat this problem?

Deadlock is a 6v6 hero shooter with a unique MOBA twist. It features an extensive roster of playable characters, including robots, wizards, and other fantastical beings. Major comparisons have arisen between Deadlock, Overwatch 2, and Team Fortress.

While these comparisons exist, Deadlock introduces distinct gameplay elements and variety, drawing inspiration from other titles in the genre.

Although Deadlock is currently in very early access, reports of cheating have surfaced, raising concerns that the game could become plagued with hacking like many other multiplayer games.

Here’s a summary of what we know so far about Deadlock’s anti-cheat systems and the developers’ future plans to address hacking issues.

Deadlock’s streets may be seedy, but you don’t have to be.

Is there anti-cheat software for Deadlock?

As of now, Deadlock does not have any substantial anti-cheat measures in place. However, since the game is still in its infancy, it is likely that Valve will introduce additional measures in the future.

The developers have already posted a message in the Deadlock Discord, encouraging players to “report in-game cheaters” so that these individuals can be reviewed by a “group of community cheat moderators.” Moderators have established a dedicated channel within the Discord server for reporting cheating incidents.

Furthermore, Valve has committed to developing “larger anti-cheat systems,” and it is anticipated that Deadlock will utilize Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC), which has been implemented in several other titles. This should help alleviate current concerns regarding widespread hacking.

A developer from Deadlock’s team on the official Discord server confirmed that they are actively working on an anti-cheat solution, although further specifics were not disclosed.

On the official Steam page for Deadlock, access is “currently limited to friend invites” from existing playtesters. This approach aims to reduce hacking and cheating, considering the implications of being called out for cheating by friends.

Additionally, if a friend is caught cheating and you have played with them regularly, your account may also face a ban.