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Deadlock’s character vote determines the order heroes unlock in a specific rollout; it is not a vote that sets a permanent game-update calendar. For City Never Sleeps, announced September 29, 2026, current coverage places voting in the Pregame lobby and lists hero releases on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Valve used a different location and release cadence for its August 2025 hero rollout, so check the event named on the current ballot rather than relying on old instructions.
How does the Deadlock character vote work?
The ballot lets the community choose which hero from that event’s pool unlocks next. It sets the order of those hero releases, not the contents or timing of every Deadlock update.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Deadlock Board Game | $39.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Asmodee Skull Bluffing & Bidding Party Game, 3-6 Players Ages 10+ | $16.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Winning Moves 13 Dead End Drive, Game of Mystery & Foul Play | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Unstable Games Twisted Cryptids Base Card Game | $19.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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The rules have varied by event. In Valve’s Six New Heroes rollout, announced August 18, 2025, players earned one vote for each completed game and cast it at a booth in The Hideout. For City Never Sleeps, Valve’s September 29, 2026 update moved voting to the Pregame lobby and said votes from the winning team count double. The two interfaces should not be confused: use the Pregame lobby for the current event, not the older Hideout booth directions.
What is known about vote weighting?
A current guide reports that City Never Sleeps votes are earned in Standard or Street Brawl, that winning-team votes count double, and that a player’s first win of the day doubles votes again. However, the accessible official update text does not fully establish the mode-eligibility rules or explain how the two multipliers combine. Ranked eligibility is also unconfirmed in the cited rule text. Treat the guide’s details as reported guidance and check the in-game ballot for the rules currently shown; do not assume Valve has officially confirmed a four-vote result for a first daily win.
#1 Best Overall
- Vintage Board Game
- Game of Skill and Strategy for two players
- Vintage game from the '70's
Where do I vote for the next Deadlock hero?
For City Never Sleeps, voting is in the Pregame lobby. Valve’s update, dated September 29, 2026, says: “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.” This wording is quoted by a current guide that reproduces the update. The Hideout voting booth belongs to the earlier Six New Heroes event.
When does the next Deadlock character come out?
Release dates depend on the rollout. For City Never Sleeps, a third-party tracker lists the following 2:00 p.m. Pacific slots. Its captured page showed Rat King released on October 2, with later slots still to come; later dates are tracker-listed dates, not confirmation that a release occurred as scheduled.
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
| City Never Sleeps slot | Listed date | Status on the tracker’s captured page |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 2, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Rat King released |
| 2 | October 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Listed as a subsequent slot |
| 3 | October 9, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Listed as a subsequent slot |
| 4 | October 13, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Listed as a subsequent slot |
| 5 | October 16, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Listed as a subsequent slot |
| 6 | October 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Pacific | Listed as a subsequent slot |
Check the live in-game ballot and Valve announcements for the latest status before relying on a future slot; the tracker is not an official Valve schedule.
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Valve introduced Mina first in the Six New Heroes update and said another hero would unlock every two days, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays over two weeks. The announcement also said balance adjustments would follow in the days after each release. Those dates and rules describe that rollout only; they do not predict the City Never Sleeps schedule.
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
Does Deadlock have a regular update schedule?
The announcements cited here do not establish a recurring weekly or monthly cadence for all Deadlock updates. The Tuesday-and-Friday times belong to the City Never Sleeps hero rollout, while the Monday-Wednesday-Friday pattern belonged to Six New Heroes. Valve’s developer forum has a major-update post dated September 29, 2026, and later changelog entries, but those posts do not establish a general interval for future updates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did players vote for in the 2025 event?
When Valve announced the completion of the Six Hero Update on August 29, 2025, it reported nearly 6 million votes. Valve also reported that one player cast 203 votes, Billy had just over 30% of votes at the time of release, and The Doorman beat Paige by 0.85% in the closest contest. These are Valve’s figures for that completed event, not results or turnout data for City Never Sleeps.
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.
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