Team Fortress 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Team Fortress 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Stop Killing Games-backed California bill targeting online game shutdowns "isn't going to be an easy thing" to enforce, says the politician behind it
California Assemblymember Chris Ward acknowledges that enforcing a new bill aimed at protecting consumers from game server shutdowns will be challenging. The proposed legislation would require publishers to offer refunds or playable offline versions of games when servers are closed. Ward hopes the bill, if passed, will influence practices nationwide, similar to the 'California Effect' seen with other consumer protection laws.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several gaming journalists share their weekend gaming plans, ranging from upcoming titles like Clair Obscur: Expeditions 33 and Onimusha to ongoing games such as Satisfactory, Overwatch, and Cyberpunk. Some express a desire to return to game development tinkering in Unity or revisit older titles like Team Fortress 2.
Evening Esports and Competitions
Team Fortress 2 is featured in the TFCL Alpha Season 2 competition. The article highlights ongoing esports events and competitions within the gaming landscape.
Waifu Wednesday: Miss Pauling from Team Fortress 2
This article discusses the character Miss Pauling from Team Fortress 2, detailing her role as the Administrator's assistant and her appearances in comics and animated shorts. It touches on fan speculation regarding her personal life and her continued relevance despite the game's age.
Evening Esports and Competitions
The AsiaFortress Summer 6s Finals for Team Fortress 2 are scheduled to take place. This event highlights the competitive esports scene for the popular game.
Memorial Day Patches
Valve has released an official update for Team Fortress 2. The patch notes indicate that this is a routine update for the popular multiplayer shooter.
Saturday Patches
Several games received official updates. Deadlock received a gameplay update on May 22, 2026, Demonschool launched a significant free update, and Team Fortress 2 also released a new patch.
Saturday Esports and Competitions
A scientific report from Scientific Reports highlights immense data processing within the brain networks of professional gamers. The article also mentions the Team Fortress 2 Moscow LAN 2026 competition.
New York's case that Steam lootboxes are "gambling" is a free speech violation that "will have an impermissible chilling effect on protected videogame design", argue Valve
Valve is arguing in a New York court that lootboxes in games like Counter-Strike 2 should not be classified as gambling, asserting that randomized rewards are not real-value items and that regulating them would violate free speech protections for game design. The company contends that the attorney general lacks the authority to enforce such regulations and that the lawsuit could stifle creativity in game development, particularly for aesthetic items like skins.
We can thank a Jim Henson Company puppeteer for some of Valve's best animation work
The distinctive character animation found in Valve games, such as Portal 2 and Team Fortress 2, owes a debt to puppeteer Karen Prell, who previously worked for The Jim Henson Company. Prell, known for her role as Red Fraggle and puppeteering the worm in Labyrinth, brought her expertise in bringing characters to life to Valve, significantly influencing the animation of characters like Wheatley.
This Team Fortress 2 zombie mod looks so good, we almost thought it was official
A new total conversion mod for Team Fortress 2, titled Mann Versus Zombies, transforms the game into a zombie-blasting horde survival experience. The mod features co-op for up to eight players, unique perks, a barricade mechanic, and increasingly difficult waves of enemies. It aims to capture the essence of the game's early days with new weapons and zombified character designs.
Absent a Left 4 Dead 3, modders are turning Team Fortress 2 into COD Zombies instead
A total-conversion mod for Team Fortress 2, named Mann Versus Zombies, is transforming the game into a Call of Duty Zombies-like experience. Developed by Breadworks, this mod features escalating horde survival with upgradable weapons and character perks, supporting up to eight players. It is set to launch soon on Steam with full Steam Workshop support.
Evening Gatherings and Events
Team Fortress 2 has announced a new community-driven event called Operation Memes vs Machines: Re-Peeled. This event focuses on player-created content and challenges within the game.
Evening Esports and Competitions
Team Fortress 2 is hosting the ÜBERFEST Trophy Design Competition. This event focuses on esports and competitive elements within the game's community.
Our Steam Controller second opinion: what works, what doesn't, and what Valve should add for the next one
This second opinion piece offers a detailed look at Valve's Steam Controller, with reviewers James and Julian sharing their experiences. While acknowledging some minor technical hiccups and wishing for better non-Steam launcher integration, both find the controller comfortable, functional, and a strong contender for PC gaming, even suggesting it could be Valve's most impactful hardware release.
Steam Controller review: even without a Steam Machine mate, this is a smartly crafted gamepad that puts PCs first
The second-generation Steam Controller is a versatile and functional gamepad designed primarily for PC use, offering improvements over its predecessor with the addition of a D-pad and a second thumbstick. It features advanced inputs like dual trackpads with improved haptics and Hall Effect-style stick drift protection, making it highly customizable. While it may lack the premium feel of some high-end controllers and has compatibility limitations with non-Steam launchers, its unique PC-centric features and innovative magnetic charging make it a compelling option for PC gamers.
15 years ago, anyone could send PC Gamer magazine text messages. We got some weird ones
This article looks back at the early 2010s when PC Gamer magazine allowed readers to send text messages for a fee. It highlights humorous and unusual messages received, contrasting them with modern communication methods. The piece also includes reader reviews submitted via text.
TF2 Americana Contest Crowns Winners in Community Art Showcase
The TF2 Painter's Workshop has announced the winners of its Americana Contest, which challenged artists to create patriotic-themed weapon skins and artwork for Team Fortress 2. Winning submissions and those scoring above a 9/15 have been included in 'The Americana Collection,' a custom war paint case proposal. This event highlights the enduring creativity of the Team Fortress 2 community, which continues to produce high-quality content nearly two decades after the game's release.
Gabe Newell stepped back from game design during Portal 2's development, because 'he always wanted to be part of the team, but being Gabe and being in his position, that never really worked'
Valve CEO Gabe Newell stepped back from active game design during the development of Portal 2 because his position made it difficult to be a collaborative team member. While he was involved in earlier titles like Half-Life and spearheaded acquisitions, Newell realized his presence could stifle developer creativity. He now focuses on higher-level company strategy and other ventures.
The FPS skybox is underappreciated, so let's appreciate some
This opinion piece argues that the skybox, a crucial element in first-person shooters, is an underappreciated aspect of game design. The author highlights several games with exceptional skyboxes, from classic titles like Halo to modern releases like Doom Eternal, suggesting that artistic skyboxes can be more impactful than pure photorealism.
