Summary
Team Fortress 2developer Valve has handed over the proverbial “keys to the kingdom,” opening up the game’s full client and server code to fans. The company encourages players to “change, extend or rewrite"Team Fortress 2in any way they like, as long as these changes are non-commercial, which is in line with Valve’s track record of being quite open with its games. This development follows a rather bumpy year forTeam Fortress 2, which is still dealing with bots and other issues.
At this point,Team Fortress 2feels immortal, as if no matter what Valve or other video game companies do, there will always be a dedicated group of players logging in to enjoy the class-based first-person shooter.Team Fortress 2was released back in 2007 and is nearing its 20th anniversary, an incredible milestone for any game, let alone a free-to-play shooter. WhileTeam Fortress 2has certainly stumbled in recent years, Valve seems keen on keeping the game around and is now offering fans the chance to explore it in brand-new ways.
Valve has madeTeam Fortress 2’s server and client code fully public, with the studio encouraging fans to explore the game’s files and make it what they want. The game’s code is now available thanks to anew update to the Source SDK, which dropped earlier this week. Fans have already beencreatingTF2mods for years, but what this essentially means is that fans can make brand-new games. However, there’s one catch: any and allTF2mods must be released for free. “The majority of items in the game now are thanks to the hard work of theTF2community.” Valve wrote. “To respect that, we’re askingTF2mod makers to continue to respect that connection and not to make mods that have the purpose of trying to profit off Workshop contributors' efforts.”
Valve Releases Full Team Fortress 2 Code
“TF2 mods may be published on the Steam Store, and after publication will appear as new games in the Steam game list,” Valve continued. The new SDK update also includes new 64-bit binary support and fixes for multiplayer Source games likeHalf-Life 2: Deathmatch,Counter-Strike: Source, andDay of Defeat: Source. Time will only tell what fans come up with as they dig deep into the inner workings of the game, but given how passionate andtalented theTeam Fortress 2community has proven to be, players can expect to see some incredible creations.
It’s unclear what will happen withTF2as the game continues to age, though Valve doesn’t seem eager to pull the plug just yet. As stated earlier, the game has a small but steady and dedicated player base, even bouncing back following controversies regardingTeam Fortress 2’s bot problem last year. Like the studio’s other online-oriented games,Team Fortress 2also brings in a significant amount of revenue for Valve through its in-game store and online market. Some fans have theorized a new, modernized version ofTeam Fortress 2may be in the works, bringing the game to Source 2 just like what Valve did withCounter-Strike 2in 2023.
Team Fortress 2
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the most popular online action games of all time, Team Fortress 2 delivers constant free updates—new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats. Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities, and lend themselves to a variety of player skills.Detailed training and offline practice modes will help you hone your skills before jumping into one of TF2’s many game modes, including Capture the Flag, Control Point, Payload, Arena, King of the Hill and more.Make a character your own:There are hundreds of weapons, hats and more to collect, craft, buy and trade. Tweak your favorite class to suit your gameplay style and personal taste. You don’t need to pay to win—virtually all of the items in the Mann Co. Store can also be found in-game.
