{
  "id": 11722567,
  "title": "Deadlock is the king of MOBA character designs, and it's all thanks to Valve's embrace of New Yorkyness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/deadlock-is-the-king-of-moba-character-designs-and-its-all-thanks-to",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-03T16:06:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlock-is-the-king-of-moba-character-designs-and-its-all-thanks-to-valves-embrace-of-new-yorkyness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Valve’s latest MOBA, Deadlock, is set in an urban fantasy of New York City. The game embraces this by featuring characters inspired by the sights and sounds of NYC. Characters like Solomon, a chessboard-wielding wizard, and Baba, a cheeky Slavic folklore figure feeding pigeons, bring the city's essence to life. The Rat King, a giant, slimy rat, embodies the wild and chaotic spirit of the city. This New York-centric approach sets Deadlock apart from other MOBAs, which often rely on generic character designs and lack cohesive narratives. Valve's enthusiasm for the game's story and setting is evident in the fan art and community engagement, even before all the characters are officially released.",
  "summary": "I want to be a part of it…",
  "key_points": [
    "Deadlock set in urban fantasy of New York City",
    "Characters inspired by NYC sights and sounds",
    "Rat King embodies wild, chaotic spirit of city"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}