Deadlock’s character vote decides the unlock order for heroes in a particular rollout; it is not a vote on a permanent game-wide release calendar. For the City Never Sleeps event announced in September 2026, current coverage places voting in the Pregame lobby and lists hero releases on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Valve has not established a recurring schedule for all Deadlock updates in the announcements reviewed here.
How does the Deadlock character vote work?
Players vote among the heroes in the active rollout, and the result determines which hero unlocks next. The rules—including where to vote and how votes count—can change between events, so use the instructions for the current ballot rather than assuming an older event’s mechanics still apply.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Deadlock Board Game | $39.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Asmodee Skull Bluffing & Bidding Party Game, 3-6 Players Ages 10+ | $16.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Winning Moves 13 Dead End Drive, Game of Mystery & Foul Play | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Unstable Games Twisted Cryptids Base Card Game | $19.98 | Buy on Amazon |
City Never Sleeps: vote in the Pregame lobby
For City Never Sleeps, Valve’s September 29, 2026 update is quoted as saying: “All voting is now done in the new Pregame lobby. Convince your allies to make the only correct choice. The winning team’s votes will count as double.” The quotation is reproduced by a current guide; the full official update text was not accessible in the reviewed page view. The current guide also says votes are earned in Standard or Street Brawl and that the first win of the day doubles votes again. Its account does not establish whether Ranked games qualify or provide an official example of how the two multipliers combine. Check the in-game ballot for the current eligibility and count.
Six New Heroes: the earlier Hideout system
For the Six New Heroes rollout, Valve’s August 18, 2025 announcement said players earned one vote each time they completed a game and could cast it at the voting booth in The Hideout. Those instructions describe that 2025 event, not the current City Never Sleeps interface. Valve framed the choice as: “Who do you want to see unlocked next?”
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- Vintage Board Game
- Game of Skill and Strategy for two players
- Vintage game from the '70's
When do the next Deadlock characters come out?
The dates below are for specific hero rollouts, not a standing schedule for every Deadlock patch.
| Event | Voting and release details | How to read the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Six New Heroes, August 2025 | Valve introduced Mina first, then announced releases on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays across a two-week rollout. Players earned one vote per completed game at the Hideout booth. | Historical event cadence; it does not establish the schedule for later rollouts. |
| City Never Sleeps, September/October 2026 | Current coverage lists Tuesday and Friday hero releases at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. A tracker lists October 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, and 20, 2026. | The tracker showed Rat King released on October 2, with later slots still upcoming when its page was captured. Dates after that are tracker-listed slots, not a guarantee; confirm the ballot and Valve announcements for current status. |
The listed City Never Sleeps slots are event-specific and can change as the ballot advances. The dates alone should not be used to predict a future hero rollout.
Rank #2
- THE ULTIMATE BLUFFING GAME: Place face-down skull or flower discs, then bid on how many you can flip without hitting a skull in this razor-sharp party board game for 3-6 adult and teen players
- PURE PSYCHOLOGY & STRATEGY: No luck, no complex rules. Skull is a pure test of nerve, memory, and reading opponents; a social deduction masterclass disguised as a beautifully elegant card game
- FAST & ADDICTIVE PARTY GAME: Skull card game plays in 30 minutes with 3-6 players. Rounds are quick and tense, keeping adults and teens engaged and eager for just one more round all night
- GREAT FOR ALL GROUP SIZES: Light enough for casual adult party games, deep enough for strategy lovers. Skull board game delivers thrills, laughter, and tense moments at any gathering or party
- THE ESSENTIAL ADULT PARTY GAME: If you love bluffing, social deduction, and outplaying your friends, Skull is the most elegant, portable party game for adults you will ever own - pure psychology, zero filler
Does Deadlock have a regular update schedule?
No recurring interval for general Deadlock updates is established by the reviewed Valve announcements. Valve’s developer forum has a major-update post dated September 29, 2026, alongside later changelog entries, but that does not show that updates arrive weekly, monthly, or on another fixed cadence. Treat general updates as announced releases rather than assuming a routine schedule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did players choose in the 2025 vote?
When Valve announced completion of the Six Hero Update on August 29, 2025, it reported nearly 6 million votes. The same post said one player cast the highest individual total, 203 votes; Billy had just over 30% of votes at release; and The Doorman beat Paige by 0.85% in the closest contest. These figures describe that completed event only, not City Never Sleeps or current voter behavior.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Cryptid-Themed Strategy Card Game: Experience a light strategy game for 2-4 players featuring cryptid characters, action cards, and skill-based play that adapts to your group's pace and style.
- Take-That Mechanics: Outwit opponents in just 60 minutes using hidden trait cards, Cryptid meeples, and take-that mechanics. A great addition to your collection of strategy board games with dynamic, competitive gameplay.
- High-Quality Components: Includes Cryptid meeples, tarot-sized cards, and durable action cards designed for immersive mind games. The box art features spooky lenticular packaging that looks great on your gaming shelf.
- Board Game for Adults, Teens, and Families: A fun card play for family game night, Halloween, or casual gatherings. Its light strategy mechanics fit well alongside party board games and family games for kids and adults.
- Expand Your Game Collection: Grow your lineup of card games with expansion packs like Cryptid Culture, Ness is More, and Yeti or Not. Explore cryptid-themed collectibles including vinyl blind boxes, reversible plushies, and card sleeves.
Rank #3
- WHO DOESN'T LOVE A MYSTERY?: The bluffing, hide your identity, sprint to survive, mystery game from the 90's is fun for all
- LIGHTS OUT: Players make their way around the mansion doing their best to survive the traps. When a trap springs it could be curtains for you and your character
- OUTFOX YOUR OPPONENT: Players need to be on their toes to keep up with everyone's movement and to conceal their real identity. It takes a shrewd strategy
- LOOK OUT: All the cool traps from the original game are in this faithful reproduction. If you are the last one standing you win
- NEVER THE SAME GAME TWICE: Because there's a large cast of characters, dice, and traps, there are so many potential outcomes that you'll never get bored to death playing 13 Dead End Drive
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
