The worst-kept secret in the gaming industry is officially breaking the internet. Valve (the creators of Counter-Strike and Dota 2) has been secretly developing a 6v6 hero-shooter MOBA hybrid called Deadlock.
Even though the game is not officially out, it currently has over 80,000 concurrent players on Steam. Everyone wants to play it, but there is no “Download” button on the store page. So, how are 80,000 people playing a secret game? You have to secure a valve deadlock playtest invite.
Here is exactly how the hidden invite system works and how you can get your Steam account whitelisted today.
- Table of Contents:
- The Valve Steam Invite System
- The Reddit Megathread Trick
- 💡 Expert Comments: Dodging the Ban Wave
🔍 ALSO READ: Claim Free Discord Nitro: August 2026 Giveaway Guide
1. The Valve Steam Invite System
Valve is utilizing a viral, multi-level marketing approach to build the player base. The only way to get into the game is if someone who is already in the playtest invites you via their Steam Friends List.
[🎬 WORDPRESS ACTION: Embed a YouTube Video of ‘Valve Deadlock Leaked Gameplay’ right here to keep them watching!]
Once you have the game, a button appears on your main menu that allows you to invite any of your Steam friends. If an existing player clicks that button and selects your Steam profile, Valve will automatically send an email and a Steam notification to your account within 24 to 48 hours, granting you access to the download.
2. The Reddit Megathread Trick
What if you do not have any friends who currently have the game? You do not have to wait. The gaming community has banded together to get everyone access. Head over to the official r/DeadlockTheGame subreddit on Reddit. At the top of the page, there is a pinned “Megathread” for invites.
Create a brand new Steam friend code (Do not post your actual Steam username). Drop your friend code in the Reddit thread. Within minutes, a random player will add you on Steam. Accept their friend request, and they will manually push the “Invite” button for you in-game. Once you receive the email from Valve, you can unfriend the random person.
🛡️ EXPERT COMMENTS: DODGING THE BAN WAVE
Can I buy a Deadlock invite on Discord?
Absolutely NOT. Thousands of scammers are currently selling “Deadlock Invites” for $5 to $10 on Discord and eBay. Do not pay for this! The invites are completely free and infinite. Furthermore, Valve tracks the ‘Invite Tree’. If a scammer gets banned by Valve for hacking or selling invites, Valve will retroactively ban every single person that the scammer invited to the game. Only accept invites from trusted friends or the verified Reddit megathread.
