Surprise! Valve has unleashed a massive update to the Source SDK, generously including the complete Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. This unprecedented move empowers players to build entirely new games from the ground up, offering a level of modification far beyond Steam Workshop or typical local content mods. Modders now possess the freedom to alter, expand, and even completely rewrite Team Fortress 2 in virtually any conceivable way.
While commercialization is prohibited—meaning any derived mods or spin-off content must be freely distributed on a non-commercial basis—creations can be published on the Steam Store, appearing as distinct games within the Steam game library.
In a blog post, Valve explained this decision, stating, "Players have a significant investment in their TF2 inventories, and Steam Workshop contributors have created a substantial amount of that content. The majority of items in the game are thanks to the community's hard work. To respect that, we're asking TF2 mod makers to continue respecting this connection and to refrain from creating mods intended to profit from Workshop contributors' efforts. We hope many mods will continue to allow players access to their TF2 inventory, where appropriate."
This expansive update also extends to Valve's entire back-catalog of multiplayer Source engine titles, incorporating 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and numerous other improvements across Team Fortress 2, DoD:S, HL2:DM, CS:S, and HLDM:S.
Following seven years of anticipation, December saw the release of the seventh and final update to the Team Fortress 2 comic. These comics have served not only as a rich source of lore and character development for fans but also as a testament to Valve's enduring commitment to one of its most enduring franchises.
