“We Can Do Better”: Deadlock Player Calls on Community to Avoid CS2’s Downfall

Deadlock, the popular MOBA game developed by Valve, has gained significant traction among gamers. Recently, a player took to Reddit to highlight toxic behavior they encountered from a teammate after a match.

This game is brand-new. Can we make an effort to keep it from devolving into toxicity? by
u/CrimsonXantriss in
DeadlockTheGame

In their Reddit post, u/CrimsonXantriss stated:

“It takes so little effort to be decent to one another, to keep the derogatory comments to yourself, even when things get rough. We can be better than this. We don’t need Deadlock becoming just another pile of toxic elitists. Let’s all treat each other and the noobs who are truly trying their best with respect.”

Another player, u/Trap_Squid expressed the opinion that players should disregard team chat in MOBA games:

“Just ignore any team chat. A MOBA is a MOBA. It has probably the most toxic people in gaming. If someone flames you just hit them with a “K.”At the end of the day, it will be filled with very toxic people, so don’t take it to heart. If you lose lane, then it is what it is.”

In response to the post, u/IndianoJonez offered some advice on countering McGinnis, as the original poster mentioned struggling in that matchup.

The comment by u/IndianoJonez (Image via Reddit)

Another Deadlock enthusiast, u/BothSidesToasted, remarked that the competitive nature of the game almost guarantees toxicity, which is unlikely to change.

Comment by
u/CrimsonXantriss from discussion
in
DeadlockTheGame

User u/ProfessorVolga recommended u/CrimsonXantriss mute the chat entirely to enhance their gaming experience. They emphasized that muting would not cause them to miss any crucial information for winning, as everything can be effectively communicated through in-game pings.

u/ProfessorVolga's comment on the post (Image via Reddit) — u/ProfessorVolga’s comment on the post (Image via Reddit)

Amid the discussions, user u/This-is-Citrus suggested reporting toxic players, highlighting that Valve has implemented strict measures against such behavior.

Comment by
u/CrimsonXantriss from discussion
in
DeadlockTheGame

What steps should Deadlock take to prevent toxicity?

As a competitive MOBA game, Deadlock inevitably faces challenges related to toxicity. To prevent it from falling into the same patterns as other MOBA titles, the developers must take actionable steps to mitigate negative behavior. One effective strategy for Valve could be to implement hardware bans for players engaging in toxic behavior towards teammates or opponents.

Since standard bans can often be circumvented by creating new accounts, hardware bans would create a significant barrier, making players reconsider their actions, as any minor display of toxicity could lead to severe consequences.

Source