Summary
A Steam user sent an email directly to Gabe Newell, the President of Valve, and received access toDeadlockas a result. TheDeadlockexchange has surprised some fans of the Steam service and Valve in general, while others have pointed out that this seems pretty typical of Newell.
Deadlockis a new game coming from Valvethat’s currently undergoing an extensive testing phase. Gaining access toDeadlockwithout reaching out to Gabe is entirely possible, but this particular player chose to get in contact with the man himself to see if he could net an invite.
Steam and Reddit user ivyx123 shared their experience trying to get aDeadlockaccess code from Gabe himself. In a screenshot, they reveal the email chain of conversation they had with Gabe, where they open the conversation expressing their praise and enjoyment of Valve and its games. The player then goes on to ask if it would be possible to gain access to theDeadlockalpha. Within 12 hours, Gabe responded directly, simply saying “Here you go,” and giving the player an access code to join.
Gamers Frequently Talk to Gabe Newell
Fans in the comments seem to be impressed at Newell’s kindness and the fact that he’s actually looking at his emails. However, those who are familiar with Steam and Valve’s long history are likely aware of how Newell interacts with fans. In some of Valve’s games, he would actively encourage players to reach out via email to him directly with any thoughts or comments they had on the titles. Gabe and the team even made something of a self-parody of it, as he says a similar line whenDota 2players reach a rampagewhile using Gabe’s announcer voice pack.
Indeed, Newell’s interactions with players don’t stop there.Gabe hand-delivered some of the first few Steam Decksto reach players, even going so far as to autograph them. It’s clear that, after all these years, he’s still interested in hearing fans' thoughts. However, many players were quick to point out that there are easier ways togain access toDeadlock, and that others should refrain from mimicking ivyx123, as it’s likely to create a tidal wave of requests being sent to Gabe directly.
Gabe Newell’s direct communication with playersis a rarity in the industry and one that should be appreciated. Gamers shouldn’t try to demand anything from the Valve co-founder, but it’s nice to see that he’s still open to communication despite his success.
Deadlock
WHERE TO PLAY
Deadlock is an upcoming game from Valve which seemingly combines elements of the MOBA and hero shooter genres. As it is still in early development, gameplay and assets may be incomplete. Access is granted via friend invites.
