Valve Unleashes Team Fortress 2 Code: Modders Celebrate

Valve has just unveiled a groundbreaking update to the Source SDK, which now includes the entire Team Fortress 2 (TF2) client and server game code. This monumental release empowers players to create entirely new games from the ground up, offering modders unprecedented freedom to modify, expand, and even completely transform Team Fortress 2. However, any creations made with this update must be offered for free and on a non-commercial basis, though they can be published on the Steam Store, appearing as new games in the Steam game list.

Valve emphasizes the importance of the TF2 community's contributions, particularly through the Steam Workshop. "Players have a lot of investment in their TF2 inventories, and Steam Workshop contributors have created a lot of that content," Valve stated in a blog post. They encourage TF2 mod makers to respect the community's efforts and not to profit from the work of Workshop contributors. Valve hopes that many mods will continue to allow players to access their TF2 inventories, if applicable to the mod's design.

In addition to the SDK update, Valve announced a comprehensive update for all its multiplayer back-catalog Source engine titles. This update brings 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and numerous other enhancements to not only TF2 but also Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Counter-Strike: Source, and Half-Life: Deathmatch Source.

This news comes on the heels of the release of the seventh and final update of the Team Fortress 2 comic series in December, after a seven-year wait. These comics have been a treasure trove for fans, providing deeper insights into characters and stories, and demonstrating Valve's ongoing commitment to one of its most beloved franchises.