Dendi Praises Valve's Deadlock but Doubts Its Esports Future: “Too Chaotic to Watch”

Danil "Dendi" Ishutin, a legendary figure in the Dota 2 professional scene, shared his thoughts on Valve's new game Deadlock, calling it one of the best in its genre—but also expressing concerns about its potential in the esports space due to how hard it is for viewers to follow.

In an interview on the Betking Esports YouTube channel, Dendi praised Deadlock for being a fun and highly engaging shooter. However, he noted that it has a steep learning curve. Players not only need strong mechanical skills but also have to spend time studying the game's many systems, including its artifact mechanics. Getting into the game and becoming good at it takes serious dedication.

Although Deadlock already has some online tournaments happening, Dendi is unsure whether the game has long-term potential as an esport. The biggest challenge, he says, is that it's difficult for spectators to understand what's happening during matches. Unlike CS2, which is easy to watch and follow even for casual viewers, Deadlock feels chaotic and overwhelming. The current 6v6 format, in particular, makes it hard to present the action in a clear and engaging way.

Dendi emphasized that the main issue is viewer accessibility. While Counter-Strike delivers a straightforward and entertaining viewing experience, Deadlock struggles in that department. Still, he remains hopeful that Valve could make improvements to make the game more spectator-friendly, which in turn could boost its chances in the competitive scene.