Deadlock Audio Design Earns Praise for Its Dynamic Music and Atmosphere

Valve's hero shooter MOBA Deadlock is earning praise for its sound design and music composition. Writing for PC Gamer, Mollie Taylor detailed how the game's audio builds tension and atmosphere from the moment a player launches the title.

The main menu introduces players to playfully ominous jazz notes that suit an eerie 1950s New York setting focused on performing rituals and summoning elder gods. As players move into the character selection screen and begin searching for a match, the soundtrack dynamically layers additional instruments, including a subtle drum beat that dances between ears.

Specific tracks received particular attention in the report. For the King, a 41 second track played when assigned to the Hidden King team, features a heavy riff that establishes an evil vibe. Meanwhile, the item draft jingle in the Street Brawl mode incorporates the ticking of a clock in the background. As the timer runs down to choose items, the music switches to become more urgent before the round begins.