Is There an Anti-Cheat System in Deadlock?

Valve’s upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock, is already facing challenges with in-game cheaters. So, what anti-cheat systems are the developers implementing to tackle this issue?

Deadlock is a 6v6 hero shooter featuring a unique MOBA twist. It boasts a vast roster of characters, including robots, wizards, and various other creatures, drawing notable comparisons to Overwatch 2 and Team Fortress.

Despite being in early access, reports of cheating have started to emerge online, raising concerns among future players that the game may encounter significant hacking issues akin to Valve’s previous titles.

Here’s what we currently know about Deadlock’s anti-cheat measures and the developers’ plans to address any hacking challenges.

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 feature any significant anti-cheat measures. However, since the game is at the early stages of its lifecycle, it is highly likely that Valve will implement additional measures moving forward.

Valve has promised to develop “larger anti-cheat systems,” and it is anticipated that Deadlock will utilize Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC), a system that has been used in several other titles by the developers. This implementation is expected to mitigate the current fears surrounding widespread hacking.

A developer from Deadlock’s official Discord server confirmed that the team is actively working on an anti-cheat solution, although detailed information has not been provided.

As part of the game’s anti-cheat framework, the developers introduced an in-game reporting system in the September 12 update, aimed at curbing toxic behavior.

Players may lose access to matchmaking, voice chat, text chat, and reporting features as penalties for toxicity. They could also be placed in a low-priority queue if reported frequently. Moreover, habitual misreporting could lead to similar penalties.

The official Steam listing for Deadlock notes that access is “currently limited to friend invites” from existing playtesters. This restriction is intended to reduce the likelihood of hacking and cheating, as players are less likely to act maliciously if they face repercussions from friends.

If a player’s friend is caught cheating, their frequent engagement with that friend could also result in a ban on their own account.

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