In light of the recent release of Deadlock, numerous details have surfaced about the game’s creation. Data mining has suggested that Half-Life 3 is currently in the works, while also uncovering earlier versions of Deadlock. According to a well-known source, one of these previous versions was a spinoff of Half-Life.
Despite the recent release of Half Life: Alyx, the Half-Life series has remained largely inactive. Valve is known for their infrequent game releases, but fans of the series have been particularly disappointed. The ongoing joke of Half-Life 3 being a mere meme holds true.
Despite this, new information regarding Deadlock’s development has recently come to light. According to a leak from Valve insider and dataminer Game Follower, the game went through several code names and was adapted for various settings throughout its years in development.
He looked back on all the thoughts he had compiled while Deadlock was being developed, reflecting on the game’s previous code names and versions.
Please note that the conversation begins at 2:20.
“Deadlock, also known as Shadowline, Neon Prime, and Citadel, originally occurred during the Seven Hour War as the Combine clashed with rebel forces on the streets of City 17.”
The Seven Hour War plays a significant role in Half-Life’s narrative. It was a brief but crucial battle that brought an end to the war between humanity and the Combine in just seven hours. The presenter also shares footage of the game set in a Tokyo-esque environment, which was ultimately discarded by Valve in favor of their current steampunk/voodoo aesthetic.
Furthermore, there exists concept art of Dynamo that was uncovered from Deadlock’s files, featuring a nod to Half-Life 3 in the form of an equation (h/3λ) written under the eye symbol that resembles the Deadlock logo. This was found through a thread on the v boards, as shared in the link provided.
Found this Deadlock artwork in the /v/ boards of 4chan (I was looking for more leaks but this is cool) byu/ExxiIon inDeadlockTheGame
Additionally, at the time of writing, the game files themselves still refer to Deadlock as Citadel, which is the current version. Even without using data mining tools or having any knowledge on the subject, it is possible to browse local files and find the game listed as “Citadel”instead of Deadlock in one of the main folders.
As mentioned in a previous video by Gabe Follower, Deadlock has been in the works since 2018, as revealed through datamining. After undergoing various changes, it entered limited Alpha playtesting in May 2024.
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