How to Change Region in Deadlock

Deadlock, the latest creation from Valve Software, skillfully blends third-person shooter mechanics with MOBA elements, creating a dynamic and strategic gaming experience. Drawing inspiration from beloved titles like DotA 2 and Team Fortress 2, Deadlock offers something for both seasoned MOBA veterans and newcomers to the genre.

Upon launching a game session in Deadlock, the system automatically assesses various factors such as preferred heroes, player skill level, and geolocation to optimize matchmaking. This automatic region assignment primarily aims to provide players with the best possible gameplay experience by reducing latency and matching skill levels. However, in its Early Development phase, Deadlock restricts the availability of time-limited player-vs-player matches based on the player’s region, which can limit when you can play against others.

Fortunately, players have discovered a workaround to change their designated matchmaking region, allowing them to engage in PvP battles at any time. This guide will walk you through the steps to adjust your matchmaking region, ensuring you can always find a game, no matter the hour. Let’s get started on how you can switch regions in Deadlock.

How to Change Deadlock Region

In Deadlock, players can switch their matchmaking regions to suit their schedule or preferences, which can be particularly useful during the game’s Early Development phase where player-vs-player match availability can vary by region. To change your matchmaking region, you will need to access the developer console, which can be opened by pressing F7. Here, you can input specific commands to select your desired region.

Below are the commands for changing regions, which you should enter in the developer console:

• Auto-detect (default setting): citadel_region_override -1
• North America: citadel_region_override 0
• Europe: citadel_region_override 1
• Asia: citadel_region_override 2
• South America: citadel_region_override 3
• Oceania: citadel_region_override 5

Once you input the relevant command, the region change will be reflected in the bottom right corner of the main menu, near the matchmaking hours indicator. It’s important to note that the game defaults back to auto-detect each time it’s launched, so you will need to re-enter your desired command each time you play.

While changing your region can help you find matches at off-peak hours, be aware that playing in a region far from your actual location may increase your game latency, potentially impacting your gameplay experience. Always consider the trade-off between better match availability and potential lag.

Why Change Your Region in Deadlock?

In Deadlock, the system automatically assigns players to the nearest server to minimize lag and enhance responsiveness. However, during the game’s early alpha stage, regional restrictions limit matchmaking availability to specific hours based on the player’s server location. This means that depending on your geographic region, you might find yourself unable to play during your preferred hours due to these curfews.

Changing your matchmaking region, though it may increase ping and potentially affect gameplay quality, allows players to bypass these regional playtime restrictions. Here are the current matchmaking times for various regions:

• North America: Matches from UTC 20:00 – 10:00 on weekdays and UTC 12:00 – 06:00 on weekends.
• Europe: Matches from UTC 12:00 – 01:00 on weekdays and UTC 08:00 – 01:00 on weekends.
• Asia: Matches from UTC 06:00 – 19:00 on weekdays and UTC 02:00 – 19:00 on weekends.
• South America: Matches from UTC 18:00 – 07:00 on weekdays and UTC 14:00 – 07:00 on weekends.
• Oceania: Matches from UTC 03:00 – 17:00 on weekdays and UTC 23:00 – 17:00 on weekends.

For players whose schedules don’t align well with their regional server’s curfews, changing regions can provide more flexibility, ensuring they can still participate in games outside the restricted hours. This makes the region change a practical option for those looking to maximize their playtime in Deadlock.

Conclusion

Changing your matchmaking region in Deadlock allows players to circumvent the regional curfews set during the game’s early alpha phase, offering the flexibility to engage in PvP matches at more convenient times. While this can lead to increased latency due to connecting to distant servers, the trade-off may be worthwhile for those who find their local server’s restricted hours limiting. Understanding how to switch regions through the developer console is a handy trick for players looking to optimize their gaming sessions, ensuring they can enjoy Deadlock’s unique blend of third-person shooter and MOBA elements anytime they wish.