:Team Fortress 2

File:Team Fortress 2 Screenshot.jpg

In most game modes, two teams, RED and BLU, compete for a combat-based objective. Players can choose to play as one of nine character classes in these teams, each with its own unique strengths, weaknesses, and weapon sets (further weapons can be obtained as free items). In order to accomplish objectives efficiently, a balance of these classes is required due to how these strengths and weaknesses interact with each other in a team-based environment. Although the abilities of a number of classes changed from earlier Team Fortress incarnations, the basic elements of each class remained, those being one primary weapon, one secondary weapon, and one melee weapon.{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2006 |title=Half-Life 2: Episode Two – The Return of Team Fortress 2 and Other Surprises |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-2-episode-two-the-return-of-team-fortress-2-and-other-surprises/1100-6154006/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323210156/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-2-episode-two-the-return-of-team-fortress-2-and-other-surprises/1100-6154006/ |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |access-date=July 8, 2015 |work=GameSpot}}{{Cite magazine |last1=Berghammer |first1=Billy |date=March 28, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Hands-On Preview |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0328.1722.34101.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406033849/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0328.1722.34101.htm |archive-date=April 6, 2007 |access-date=April 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |magazine=Game Informer}} The game was released with six official maps, although over one hundred maps have since been included in subsequent updates, including community-created maps.{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2008 |title=Team Fortress 2 Badlands preview |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/50730/team-fortress-2-badlands-preview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503090647/http://www.shacknews.com/article/50730/team-fortress-2-badlands-preview |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2008 |work=Shacknews |language=en}} When a player chooses a game-mode for the first time, an introductory video is played, showing how to complete its objectives. During matches, the Administrator,{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Team Fortress 2 – The Administrator |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/war/administrator/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206210909/http://www.teamfortress.com/war/administrator/ |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2011 |publisher=Valve}} voiced by Ellen McLain, announces the teams' current objectives over loudspeakers.{{Cite web |title=Ellen McLain |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1655889/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201112655/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1655889/ |archive-date=February 1, 2009 |access-date=July 26, 2009 |publisher=Internet Movie Database}} The player limit for one match is 16 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and 24 on the Windows edition.{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Interview |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/10/team-fortress-2-interview-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406103705/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/10/team-fortress-2-interview-2 |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |access-date=August 19, 2007 |work=IGN}} However, in 2008, the Windows edition was updated to include a server variable that allows for up to 32 players.{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2008 |title=Team Fortress 2 February 28, 2008 Team Fortress 2 update |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1464/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922142737/http://store.steampowered.com/news/1464/ |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |access-date=October 16, 2009 |publisher=Valve}} Furthermore, in 2023, the Windows edition was updated to have unrestricted player counts for up to 100 players in a single server.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=206934 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}

Team Fortress 2 is the first of Valve's multiplayer games to provide detailed statistics for individual players, such as the total amount of time spent playing as each class, most points obtained, and most objectives completed in a single life. Persistent statistics tell the player how they are performing in relation to these statistics, such as if a player comes close to their record for the damage inflicted in a single round.{{Cite magazine |last1=Berghammer |first1=Billy |date=March 27, 2007 |title=The Team Fortress 2 Interview: The Evolution |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0327.1745.51023.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406214738/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0327.1745.51023.htm |archive-date=April 6, 2007 |access-date=April 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |magazine=Game Informer}} Team Fortress 2 also features numerous achievements for carrying out certain tasks, such as achieving a certain number of kills or completing a specific objective. Sets of class-specific achievements have been added in updates, which can award weapons to the player upon completion. This unlockable system has since been expanded into a random drop system, with which players can also obtain items simply by playing the game.{{Cite magazine |last=Francis, Tom |date=January 22, 2008 |title=Team Fortress 2 Gets Unlockable Weapons |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=180201 |url-status=dead |magazine=PC Gamer UK |publisher=Computer and Video Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124110345/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=180201 |archive-date=January 24, 2008 |access-date=March 2, 2008}}

Team Fortress 2 contains five core game modes.

• Attack/Defend (A/D) is a timed game mode in which the BLU team's goal is to capture RED's control points. The number of control points varies between maps, and the points must be captured by the BLU team, usually in sequence. To capture a control point, a player must stand on it for a certain amount of time, with more players increasing the speed it is being captured at. RED, who cannot capture points, must prevent BLU from capturing all the control points before the time-limit expires. Once a point is captured, the time-limit will be extended by several minutes.
• Capture the Flag (CTF) is a mode in which RED and BLU must steal the opposing team's flag (an intelligence briefcase) and prevent their own intelligence from being stolen. When the intelligence is dropped by the carrier, it will stay on the ground for 1 minute before returning to its original location if it is not picked up again. A team's intelligence can be carried only by the opposing team. The first team to capture the enemy's intelligence three times wins.{{Cite web |last=Scholz |first=Sven |title=Capture The Flag – CTF – Maps « Article « Team Fortress 2 – TF2 – TFC – TFPortal |url=http://www.tfportal.de/article/93/capture-the-flag-maps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070737/http://www.tfportal.de/article/93/capture-the-flag-maps/ |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.tfportal.de |language=de}}
• Control Points (CP) is a timed game mode where there are several control points placed around the map, with three (3CP) or five (5CP) control points in total depending on the map. The game will start off with only the middle control point being available for capture, with the other control points split equally among both teams. Once this middle control point is captured, a team can begin capturing the enemy team's points in respective order. The time limit is extended on the capture of a control point by either team. For a team to win, they must capture all the control points within the time limit.
• King of the Hill (KOTH) is a timed game mode that contains a single control point at the middle of the map that can be captured by both RED and BLU. Should the opposing team capture the point from the team that had it before, their timer will stop and the opposing team's timer will begin or resume. The point can be recaptured by each team as many times as is possible. The first team to control the point for 180 seconds (not necessarily continuous) wins.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Classless Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/day02_english.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004219/http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/day02_english.htm |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}
• Payload (PL) is a timed game mode where BLU must push an explosive cart along a track, while RED must prevent the cart from reaching their base. To push the cart, at least one BLU player must be in range of the cart, with more players increasing the push speed. Maps have multiple 'checkpoints' along the track; each checkpoint reached by the cart awards the BLU team with additional time. If the cart is not pushed by BLU for some time, it will begin to roll back to the last achieved checkpoint. RED players can obstruct the cart from being pushed by being within range of it.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Gold Rush Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/goldrush/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210103825/http://www.teamfortress.com/goldrush/ |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}

There are several alternative game modes in Team Fortress 2. These modes consist of a small number of maps and detach from the core game modes in some way.

• Arena is a special game mode in which players do not respawn upon death. A team can win either by eliminating all opposing players, or by claiming a single capture point that opens after a certain time has elapsed.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – A Heavy Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/heavy/arena.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123212203/http://www.teamfortress.com/heavy/arena.htm |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} This mode is currently unavailable through matchmaking, but is still accessible through community servers.
• Mannpower is a mode in which players have access to a grappling hook and assorted power-ups laid around the map that grant unique abilities.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – "Mannpower Mode Beta" |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=15300 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070758/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=15300 |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} While not bound to any specific mode, all current official Mannpower maps use a variation of Capture the Flag. In Mannpower's variation of Capture the Flag, both teams have an intelligence flag, and the first team to capture the enemy's intelligence ten times wins. The mode is based on the Quake mod 'Threewave CTF' created by former Valve employee David Kirsch.{{Cite web |title=Capture the Flag – QWiki |url=https://www.quakeworld.nu/wiki/Capture_the_Flag |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026205506/https://www.quakeworld.nu/wiki/Capture_the_Flag |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |website=www.quakeworld.nu}}
• Medieval Mode is a mode in which players are restricted to using melee and support weapons, with certain exceptions for medieval-themed projectile weapons.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Australian Christmas |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/australianchristmas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501043107/http://www.teamfortress.com/australianchristmas/ |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} While not bound to any specific mode, the official Medieval Mode maps use variations of Attack/Defend. If Medieval Mode is enabled on a map, select phrases spoken by players in the in-game text chat will be replaced with more thematic variants, such as "hello" being replaced with "well meteth".
• PASS Time is a unique timed game mode inspired by rugby, developed by Valve, Bad Robot Interactive, and Escalation Studios.{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=August 19, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 gets beta rugby mod from the studio behind Star Wars, Star Trek movies |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/8/19/9176509/team-fortress-2-gets-beta-soccer-mod-from-the-studio-behind-star-wars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074241/https://www.polygon.com/2015/8/19/9176509/team-fortress-2-gets-beta-soccer-mod-from-the-studio-behind-star-wars |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=Polygon}} Three unique goals (the Run-In, Throw-In, and Bonus Goals) are placed on each team's side of the map. A single ball called the JACK will spawn at the center of the map, and players must pick it up and carry it to the opposing team's side. While holding the JACK, players cannot fire their weapons, but passive effects are still applied. Players can score a goal by either carrying the JACK to a Run-In Goal or by throwing the JACK through the Throw-In Goal. Three goals can be scored by throwing the JACK through the Bonus Goal, which is much more difficult to score. To win, a team must either score five goals, or have the most goals when the timer runs out.
• Payload Race (PLR) is similar to Payload, but both the RED and BLU teams have a cart that they must push, while preventing the opposing team from doing the same. There are multiple checkpoints along the track, and there is no time limit. The team to reach the end of their track first wins a point. The game lasts until one team gets two points.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – The Sniper Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day02_english.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522182638/http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day02_english.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}
• Player Destruction is a community-made game mode in which a player's death causes a pickup to appear. The first team to collect a set number of pickups and deliver them to a drop-off point wins the game. The players on each team with the most pickups are highlighted for everyone to see, and gain a passive healing effect for themselves and any nearby teammates.
• Special Delivery is a mode similar to Capture the Flag, but there is only one neutral briefcase that can be picked up both the RED and BLU teams. Upon a team picking up the briefcase, the opposing team will be unable to pick up the briefcase until it has been dropped for 45 seconds and respawns as a neutral briefcase. A team wins by carrying the briefcase onto a loading platform, which will gradually rise until the platform reaches its peak.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 adding new map, Meet the Pyro movie Wednesday |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-2-adding-new-map-meet-the-pyro-movie-wednesday/1100-6383944/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906163203/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-2-adding-new-map-meet-the-pyro-movie-wednesday/1100-6383944/ |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
• Territorial Control consists of several control points spread out across a single map. Like Control Points, each point can be captured by either the RED or BLU teams. Unlike Control Points, only two points are accessible at a single time. Upon a team's successful capture of a point, the "stage" ends and the accessible capture points change. When a team only has control of a single control point, they are blocked from capturing the opposing team's control point and the team must wait until the time limit is up and the accessible capture points change. A team wins by capturing all the control points.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 (Game) – Giant Bomb |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/team-fortress-2/3030-18162/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208122324/https://www.giantbomb.com/team-fortress-2/3030-18162/ |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}
• Versus Saxton Hale is a juggernaut game mode that originated as a mod for the Arena mode developed by LizardOfOz, which was then popularized on community servers. It puts one player as Saxton Hale (on BLU) against up to 31 other players (on RED). Saxton Hale is restricted to melee attacks, but he can perform a Brave Jump (double jump), a charge attack that allows him to fly in any direction, a body slam that creates a damaging shockwave upon landing, and a super punch, which deals more damage than a regular punch. Like in Arena, Saxton or RED can win by eliminating the opposing player(s), or by capturing a single control point after enough time elapses.{{Cite web |last=Biazzi |first=Leonardo |date=July 13, 2023 |title=TF2 VS Saxton Hale: Official game mode explained |url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/tf2-vs-saxton-hale-official-game-mode-explained |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Labilles |first=Justin-Ivan |date=July 18, 2023 |title=What is VSH in TF2? Custom 'Juggernaut' mode, explained |url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/what-is-vsh-in-tf2-custom-juggernaut-mode-explained |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}

These modes are not categorized with the other modes, and instead have their own separate sections in the game.

• Halloween Mode is a special mode that is enabled during Halloween, and allows the players access to more than 20 Halloween themed maps, Halloween-exclusive cosmetics and challenges. For example, Halloween 2012 included a difficult Mann vs. Machine mission involving destroying more than 800 enemy forces.{{Cite web |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=October 26, 2012 |title=Team Fortress 2 Halloween Update Adds Zombies |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/26/team-fortress-2-halloween-update-adds-zombies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030061935/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/26/team-fortress-2-halloween-update-adds-zombies |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2012 |work=IGN}} Owing to popular demand of the Halloween events, Valve later added the Full Moon event, an event that triggers around every full moon phase throughout the year, which allows players to equip Halloween-exclusive cosmetics. In 2013, Valve introduced an item called Eternaween, and upon use, allows players of a specific server to use Halloween-exclusive cosmetics for 2 hours.{{Cite web |last=Peel |first=Jeremy |date=November 12, 2013 |title=Don't give up the ghost: Team Fortress 2 update enables Halloween all year round |url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/don-t-give-ghost-team-fortress-2-update-enables-halloween-all-year-round |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112164248/http://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/don-t-give-ghost-team-fortress-2-update-enables-halloween-all-year-round |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=November 12, 2013 |work=PC Gamer}}
• Mann vs Machine (MvM) is a cooperative game mode where players must defend their base from waves of robots modeled after all nine playable classes, and in some maps, slow-moving tanks carrying bombs. Robots and tanks drop a currency referred to as Credits upon their death, which players can use to buy upgrades for themselves or their weapons. The players win upon successfully defending their base from the bomb until the last wave.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Mann vs. Machine |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814153816/http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/ |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} A paid version of this game mode called "Mann Up" is also available, where players buy "Tour Of Duty Tickets" with real money to play a series of missions with the chance to win unique cosmetics, weapons and robot parts that can be used in crafting.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Mann Up! FAQ |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/faq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075459/http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/faq/ |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}
• Offline Practice Mode consists of the player and computer-controlled bots. The number of bots, their difficulty, and the map can all be adjusted to a player's preference, though only a select amount of maps and gamemodes are available to play.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – The Mac Update! |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/macupdate/training/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604075912/http://www.teamfortress.com/macupdate/training/ |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 update is devoid of hats, full of training and tips |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/team-fortress-2-update-is-devoid-of-hats-full-of-training-and-t/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221023/https://www.engadget.com/2011-04-15-team-fortress-2-update-is-devoid-of-hats-full-of-training-and-t.html |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |website=Engadget |date=July 15, 2016 |language=en}}
• Training Mode exists to help new players get acquainted with basic controls, and teaches them the basics of four of the nine classes, Soldier, Demoman, Engineer and Spy. It uses wooden dummies and bots to teach players the basic mechanics of classes and the game.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Hatless Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/hatless/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123215657/http://www.teamfortress.com/hatless/ |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}

Team Fortress 2 is played competitively through multiple leagues. The North American league, ESEA, supports a paid Team Fortress 2 league, with $42,000 in prizes for the top teams in 2017.{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2017 |title=ESEA League Season 24 Prize Breakdown |url=https://play.esea.net/index.php?s=news&d=comments&id=14974 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |publisher=ESEA}}{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2017 |title=ESEA League Season 25 Prize Breakdown |url=https://play.esea.net/index.php?s=news&d=comments&id=15039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221023/https://play.esea.net/news/15039 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |publisher=ESEA}}{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2017 |title=ESEA League Season 26 Prize Breakdown |url=https://play.esea.net/index.php?s=news&d=comments&id=15081 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221053/https://play.esea.net/news/15081 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |publisher=ESEA}} While formalized competitive gameplay is very different from normal Team Fortress 2, it offers an environment with a much higher level of teamwork than in public servers. Most teams use voice chat to communicate, and use a combination of strategy, communication, and mechanical skill to win against other teams. Community-run competitive leagues also tend to feature restrictions such as item bans and class limits. These leagues are often supported by Valve via in-game medals (which are submitted via the Steam Workshop) and announcements on the official blog.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – ETF2L Season 15 Highlander Grand Finals |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=39935 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219001343/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=39935 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}

In April 2015, Valve announced that a dedicated competitive mode would be added to Team Fortress 2, utilizing skill-based matchmaking;{{Cite web |last=Dransfield |first=Ian |date=April 28, 2015 |title=Matchmaking is coming to Team Fortress 2 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/matchmaking-is-coming-to-team-fortress-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906192159/http://www.pcgamer.com/matchmaking-is-coming-to-team-fortress-2/ |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=September 9, 2015 |website=PC Gamer}} closed beta testing began in the following year.{{Cite web |last=Saed |first=Sharif |date=February 19, 2016 |title=Team Fortress 2 finally getting competitive matchmaking |url=http://www.vg247.com/2016/02/19/team-fortress-2-finally-getting-competitive-matchmaking/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220094447/http://www.vg247.com/2016/02/19/team-fortress-2-finally-getting-competitive-matchmaking/ |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |access-date=February 19, 2016 |website=VG247}} The competitive mode was added in the "Meet Your Match" update, released on July 7, 2016.{{Cite web |last=O'Conner |first=Alice |date=July 8, 2016 |title=Team Fortress 2 Launches Matchmaking |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/08/team-fortress-2-matchmaking-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709141804/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/08/team-fortress-2-matchmaking-update/ |archive-date=July 9, 2016 |access-date=July 8, 2016 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}} Ranked matches are played six-vs-six, with players ranked in thirteen ranks based on win/losses and an assessment of their skills.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Competitive Mode F.A.Q. |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/meetyourmatch/faq |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416153942/http://www.teamfortress.com/meetyourmatch/faq/ |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=June 11, 2019 |website=teamfortress.com}} Ranked matchmaking will balance players based on their ranks and rating. A similar matchmaking approach has been added for casual games for matches of 12-vs-12 players, but uses a hidden value. In order to join competitive matchmaking, players must have associated their Steam account with the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, as well as having a Team Fortress 2 "premium account", which is unlocked by either having bought the game before it went free-to-play or by having made an in-game item purchase since.{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=July 6, 2016 |title=Team Fortress 2 update adding matchmaking, ranked play and more |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/6/12107852/team-fortress-2-matchmaking-update-competitive-mode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706200945/http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/6/12107852/team-fortress-2-matchmaking-update-competitive-mode |archive-date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 6, 2016 |website=Polygon}}

Team Fortress 2 is played in a variety of different formats, which dictate the maximum size and composition of a team and can drastically change the impact of a single player's gameplay or choice of class. The two most basic formats consist of 12v12 and 6v6 ("Sixes"), the two being used on official Valve servers for casual and competitive modes respectively with no additional limitations. Most competitive leagues host Sixes but include limits on certain classes and weapons to preserve traditional, skill-based playstyles, for example limiting the allowed amount of Medics or Demomen to one on either team or banning certain movement-enhancing weapons from use. Other popular formats include "Highlander", a 9v9 format with a limit of one player per each of the nine classes, as well as a Sixes-inspired 7v7 variant thereof known as "Prolander" to allow for strategically switching classes during a competitive game.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – UGC Highlander and 6v6 News |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=10731 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219023506/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=10731 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – RGL gg Prolander Grand Finals |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=31626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219010245/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=31626 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}{{Cite web |last=Peel |first=Jeremy |date=May 29, 2014 |title=Team Fortress 2 UGC tournament season begins June 10 |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/team-fortress-2-ugc-tournament-season-begins-june-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412052200/http://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/team-fortress-2-ugc-tournament-season-begins-june-10 |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-GB}}

{{More citations needed|date=July 2022|section}}

File:TF2 Group.jpg

Team Fortress 2 features nine playable classes, which are evenly split and categorized into "Offense", "Defense", and "Support". Each class has strengths and weaknesses and must work with other classes to be efficient, encouraging strategy and teamwork.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2008 |title=A Heavy Problem |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=1670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906093049/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=1670 |archive-date=September 6, 2008 |access-date=September 28, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2}} Each class has at least three default weapons: a primary weapon, secondary weapon, and melee weapon. Engineers and Spies have two additional slots; for Engineers, their PDAs, and for Spies, their disguise kit and invisibility watch. An additional character, Saxton Hale, is playable in the "Versus Saxton Hale" game mode.{{Cite news |last=Gan |first=Jeremy |date=13 July 2023 |title=Team Fortress 2 hits new peak player count as Summer 2023 update reinvigorates Valve title |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/team-fortress-2-hits-new-peak-player-count-as-summer-2023-update-reinvigorates-valve-title-2209805/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713044419/https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/team-fortress-2-hits-new-peak-player-count-as-summer-2023-update-reinvigorates-valve-title-2209805/ |archive-date=13 July 2023 |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=Dexerto}}

{{Anchor|Scout}}

• The Scout (Nathan Vetterlein) is an American baseball fan and street runner from Boston, Massachusetts, United States, who practiced running to be faster than his seven siblings.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Scout |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/scout.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106112524/http://www.teamfortress.com/scout.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} He is a fast, agile character, who is armed by default with a scattergun, a pistol, and a bat. The Scout can double jump, and is counted twice when capturing control points and when pushing the Payload cart, doubling their speeds.

{{Anchor|Soldier}}

• The Soldier (Rick May) is an American jingoistic patriot from the Midwestern United States who portrays himself as a military-man (despite never having served in the U.S. Armed Forces). The Soldier is armed by default with a rocket launcher, a shotgun, and a shovel.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Soldier |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=soldier |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613223127/https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=soldier |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} He is both the second-slowest class in the game and the class with the second-highest health, after the Heavy. The Soldier can use his rocket launcher to "rocket jump" to other locations at the cost of some health.

{{Anchor|Pyro}}

• The Pyro (Dennis Bateman) is a pyromaniac of unknown sex and origin who wears a fire-retardant suit and a voice-muffling gas mask.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 – Pyro |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=pyro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702032903/https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=pyro |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} By default, the Pyro carries a flamethrower, a shotgun, and a fire axe. The Pyro's flamethrower can also produce blasts of compressed air which repel nearby enemies and projectiles, and extinguish burning teammates. The Pyro is deluded and believes they are living in a utopian fantasy world called "Pyroland".{{Cite web |last=Goldstein, Hilary |date=May 23, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2: Class Warfare |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/23/team-fortress-2-class-warfare-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731160624/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/23/team-fortress-2-class-warfare-2 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |access-date=September 21, 2007 |work=IGN}}{{Cite web |title=Pyro Update |url=http://www.steampowered.com/pyro/?pw=presspreview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619025500/http://www.steampowered.com/pyro/?pw=presspreview |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |access-date=June 18, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}}

{{Anchor|Demoman}}

• The Demoman (Gary Schwartz) is a Black Scottish one-eyed alcoholic demolitions expert from Ullapool, Scotland.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Demoman |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/demoman.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227130110/http://www.teamfortress.com/demoman.htm |archive-date=February 27, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} Armed by default with a grenade launcher, a "stickybomb" launcher (bombs that are detonated when prompted to by the player, and can stick to most surfaces), and a glass bottle of scrumpy, the Demoman can use his explosives to provide indirect fire and set traps. Similar to the Soldier's rocket jump, the Demoman can use his stickybombs to "sticky jump" at the cost of some health.

{{Anchor|Heavy Weapons Guy|Heavy}}

• The Heavy Weapons Guy, or simply the Heavy (Schwartz), is a large, robust Russian man from the Dzhugdzhur Mountains of the Soviet Union who is obsessed with firepower. He is the slowest class, and can both absorb and deal substantial amounts of damage. His default weapons consist of a minigun that he affectionately refers to as "Sasha", a shotgun, and his fists.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Heavy |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/heavy.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106120232/http://www.teamfortress.com/heavy.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}}

{{Anchor|Engineer}}

• The Engineer (Grant Goodeve) is an American inventor, engineer, and "good ol' boy" from Bee Cave, Texas.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Engineer |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/engineer.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106123056/http://www.teamfortress.com/engineer.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} The Engineer can deploy buildings to support his team: a sentry gun for defending key points, a health and ammunition dispenser, and a pair of teleporters (one entrance and one exit). The Engineer is armed by default with a shotgun, a pistol, and a wrench, which functions as both a melee weapon and to repair and upgrade his buildings. He carries two PDAs; one to erect his buildings and one to remotely destroy them.

{{Anchor|Medic}}

• The Medic (Robin Atkin Downes) is a German doctor from Stuttgart with little regard for the Hippocratic Oath.{{Cite web |last=Jungels |first=Jakob |date=July 3, 2008 |title=TF2 Trading Cards – Part 2 |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=1678 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227130152/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=1678 |archive-date=February 27, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} He is equipped with a "Medi Gun", which can restore health to injured teammates. When healing teammates, the Medi Gun progressively builds an "ÜberCharge" meter, which, when fully charged, can be activated to provide the Medic and his patient with temporary invulnerability. The Medic is also equipped by default with a syringe gun and a bonesaw for situations in which he must engage in direct combat.{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2008 |title=Gold Rush Update |url=http://www.steampowered.com/goldrush/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430160204/http://www.steampowered.com/goldrush/ |archive-date=April 30, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}}

{{Anchor|Sniper}}

• The Sniper (John Patrick Lowrie) is an ocker assassin born in New Zealand and raised in the Australian outback,{{Cite web |title=Meet the Sniper |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106122844/http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2008 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} equipped by default with a sniper rifle to shoot enemies from afar. Depending on how the player aims and fires, he can cause massive damage or instantly kill an opponent via a headshot. By default, he also carries a submachine gun and a kukri for close combat.

{{Anchor|Spy}}

• The Spy (Bateman) is a French covert operative who carries an invisibility device disguised as a wristwatch, an electronic sapper to disable and destroy enemy Engineers' buildings, and a device in his cigarette case that allows him to disguise himself as any player on either team.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Spy |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=spy#movie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702031020/https://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=spy#movie |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=www.teamfortress.com |publisher=Valve}} His default weaponry consists of a revolver and a butterfly knife; he is able to use the latter to instantly kill enemies by stabbing them in the back. He is the only character who does not wear any clothing in his team's bright color or a patch denoting his specialty, instead preferring a balaclava, business suit, necktie, and gloves in muted team-color hues.

{{Anchor|Saxton Hale}}

• Saxton Hale (JB Blanc in "Jungle Inferno",{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Chris |date=2023-07-14 |title=All Voice Actors in TF2 |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/all-voice-actors-in-team-fortress-2/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US}} uncredited in-game) is an Australian adventurer and businessman who is the chief executive officer of the fictional Mann Co., a large shipping company which specializes in manufacturing munitions and hats. Saxton is notable for his hypermasculine personality and physique, and his Australia-shaped chest-hair.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 new class: VS Saxton Hale explained |url=https://www.ggrecon.com/guides/teamn-fortress-2-new-class-vs-saxton-hale/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=www.ggrecon.com |language=en}} He is the central character of the "Versus Saxton Hale" game mode, in which he has a large pool of health and superhuman abilities, including immense strength and agility. Saxton can attack only with his fists, but is able to double-jump like the Scout.

• The Administrator or the Announcer (Ellen McLain) is an unseen announcer who provides timely information about time limits and objectives to players.
• Miss Pauling (Ashly Burch), the Administrator's assistant.
• The Horseless Headless Horsemann, Monoculus (Schwartz), Merasmus and the Bombinomicon (both Nolan North), serve as the antagonists of the Game's Annual Halloween Events.
• Zepheniah Mann (North) was the founder and original CEO of Mann Co. After his sons, Redmond and Blutarch, convinced him to buy massive lands in New Mexico, he traveled to the land, suffering and eventually succumbing to several diseases. In his will, he left his company to his aide and tracker, Barnabus Hale, and the worthless lands in New Mexico to his sons, knowing fully well they would not be able to share.
• Redmond and Blutarch Mann are the identical twin sons of Zepheniah and founders of the companies Reliable Excavation Demolition and Builders' League United, respectively. From a young age, they both had a strong sibling rivalry, and when their father forced them to share the lands in New Mexico in his will, this led to a conflict between them called the "Gravel War", a stalemate for control that would last over a hundred years (as both brothers used immortality machines with the intention of outliving each other), and it only ended when they were both murdered by their long-lost third brother, Gray Mann.

File:TF2 Mann Co logo.png

Although Team Fortress 2 is designed as an open-ended multiplayer experience without an active storyline, the game and additional material feature a wider narrative centered around Mann Co. The main PvP gamemodes are set during the "Gravel Wars", a conflict between the rival heirs Redmond and Blutarch Mann for which the nine playable characters were hired as mercenaries. Gray Mann later emerges as the third competitor, killing his two brothers and forcing Saxton Hale to rehire the mercenaries to protect Mann Co. from Gray's robot army in the Mann vs Machine cooperative horde-shooter mode.

The original Team Fortress was developed by the Australian team TF Software, comprising Robin Walker and John Cook,{{Cite book |last1=Steinkuehler |first1=Constace |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WoU0YXMsvy0C&q=robin+walker+valve |title=Games, Learning, and Society: Learning and Meaning in the Digital Age. |last2=Squire |first2=Kurt |last3=Barab |first3=Sasha |date=June 11, 2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-19623-9 |series= |location= |pages=70 |language=en}} as a free mod for the 1996 PC game Quake. In 1998, Walker and Cook were employed by Valve, which had just released its first game, Half-Life. Valve began developing Team Fortress 2 as an expansion pack for Half-Life using Valve's GoldSrc engine, and gave a release date for the end of the year.{{Cite web |last=Dunkin, Alan |date=June 1, 1998 |title=Team Fortress Full Speed Ahead |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-full-speed-ahead/1100-2463316/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323205856/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-full-speed-ahead/1100-2463316/ |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2006 |work=GameSpot}} In 1999, Valve released Team Fortress Classic, a port of the original Team Fortress, as a free Half-Life mod.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress Classic (overview) |url=http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/tfc/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103010052/http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/tfc/ |archive-date=January 3, 2007 |access-date=December 2, 2006 |publisher=Planet Half-Life}} Team Fortress Classic was developed using the publicly available Half-Life software development kit as an example to the community and industry of its flexibility.{{Cite web |title=About Team Fortress Classic |url=http://www.planetfortress.com/tfc/about.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213033218/http://www.planetfortress.com/tfc/about.shtml |archive-date=December 13, 2006 |access-date=December 2, 2006 |work=PlanetFortress}}

File:Tf2 oldstyle.jpg

Valve originally planned Team Fortress 2 to have a modern war aesthetic. It would feature innovations including a command hierarchy with a Commander class, parachute drops over enemy territory, and networked voice communication.{{Cite web |last=Dawson, Ed |date=November 11, 2000 |title=Team Fortress 2 Q&A |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-2-qanda/1100-2652476/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417173922/http://www.gamespot.com/team-fortress-2/previews/team-fortress-2-qanda-2652476/ |archive-date=April 17, 2012 |access-date=December 2, 2006 |work=GameSpot}} The Commander class played similarly to a real-time strategy game; the player viewed the game from a bird's-eye perspective and issued orders to players and AI-controlled soldiers. The Commander class was eventually abandoned because players would simply disobey the orders.

Team Fortress 2 was first shown at E3 1999{{Cite web |title=Past Winners |url=http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/1999winners.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824225446/http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/1999winners.html |archive-date=August 24, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2008 |publisher=GameCriticsAwards.com}} as Team Fortress 2: Brotherhood of Arms, where Valve showcased new technologies including parametric animation, which blended animations for smoother, more lifelike movement,{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2: Technology |url=http://www.planetfortress.com/tf2/gameinfo/technology.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601173137/http://www.planetfortress.com/tf2/gameinfo/technology.shtml |archive-date=June 1, 2007 |access-date=April 5, 2007 |publisher=PlanetFortress |work=GameSpy |language=en}} and Intel's multi-resolution mesh technology, which dynamically reduced the detail of distant on-screen elements to improve performance. The game earned several awards including Best Online Game and Best Action Game.

In mid-2000, Valve announced that Team Fortress 2 had been delayed for a second time.{{Cite web |last=Park, Andrew Seyoon |date=June 21, 2000 |title=New Engine for Team Fortress 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-engine-for-team-fortress-2/1100-2592192/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135659/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-engine-for-team-fortress-2/1100-2592192/ |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |access-date=May 26, 2017 |website=GameSpot}} They attributed the delay to development switching to its new in-house engine, Source. Following the announcement, Valve released no news on the game for six years.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2007 |title=Orange Box Interview |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24305.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234414/http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24305.html |archive-date=September 26, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2007 |work=GameTrailers}} Walker and Cook worked on various other Valve projects; Walker was project lead on Half-Life 2: Episode One{{Cite magazine |last=Berghammer |first=Billy |date=May 26, 2006 |title=Half-Life 2: Episode One Hands-On, Details, And Extensive Video Interview |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200605/N06.0526.1422.35562.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516082810/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200605/N06.0526.1422.35562.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |magazine=Game Informer}} and Cook worked on Valve's content distribution platform, Steam.{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2006 |title=Friends 3.0 Pre-beta Interview |url=http://steamreview.org/posts/friends3interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828220005/http://steamreview.org/posts/friends3interview/ |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |work=The Steam Review}} Team Fortress 2 became a prominent example of vaporware, a long-anticipated game that had seen years of development, and was often mentioned alongside another much-delayed game, Duke Nukem Forever.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2006 |title=Vaporware: Better Late Than Never |url=https://www.wired.com/2006/02/vaporware-better-late-than-never/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110154932/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/02/70143?currentPage=2 |archive-date=January 10, 2009 |access-date=May 23, 2007 |work=Wired News}} Walker said that Valve built three or four different versions of Team Fortress 2 before settling on their final design.{{Cite magazine |last=Berghammer, Billy |date=March 26, 2007 |title=The History Of Team Fortress 2 |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0326.1849.05812.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403160515/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200703/N07.0326.1849.05812.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2007 |access-date=April 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |magazine=Game Informer}} Shortly before the release of Half-Life 2 in 2004, Valve's marketing director, Doug Lombardi, confirmed that Team Fortress 2 was still in development.

Valve reintroduced Team Fortress 2 at the EA Summer Showcase event in the July of 2006. Departing from the realistic visual design of other Valve games, Team Fortress 2 features a cartoon-like visual style influenced by 20th-century commercial illustrations{{Cite web |last1=Roper |first1=Chris |date=July 14, 2006 |title=Team Fortress 2 Teaser Impressions |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/14/team-fortress-2-teaser-impressions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108211432/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/14/team-fortress-2-teaser-impressions |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2006 |work=IGN |language=en}} and the artwork of J. C. Leyendecker, Dean Cornwell, and Norman Rockwell,{{Cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Jason |last2=Francke |first2=Moby |last3=Eng |first3=Dhabih |date=August 6, 2007 |title=Illustrative Rendering in Team Fortress 2 |url=http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2007/NPAR07_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2007 |publisher=Valve |language=en |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312014220/http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2007/NPAR2007_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2.wmv |url-status=dead }}; [http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2007/NPAR2007_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2.wmv Video summary] (WMV, 75.4 MB) achieved through Gooch shading.{{Cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Jason |last2=Francke |first2=Moby |last3=Eng |first3=Dhabih |title=Proceedings of the 5th international symposium on Non-photorealistic animation and rendering |chapter=Illustrative rendering in Team Fortress 2 |date=January 1, 2007 |chapter-url=http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2007/NPAR07_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2.pdf |publisher=ACM |pages=71–76 |doi=10.1145/1274871.1274883 |isbn=978-1-59593-624-0 |s2cid=13002059 |access-date=May 6, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312014220/http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2007/NPAR2007_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2.wmv |url-status=dead }} The game debuted with the Source engine's new dynamic lighting, shadowing, and soft particle technologies alongside Half-Life 2: Episode Two. It was the first game to implement the Source engine's new facial animation features.{{Cite web |last1=Ruymen |first1=Jason |date=May 14, 2007 |title=Face-to-face with Team Fortress 2{{'}}s heavy |url=http://steamgames.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=1039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221011736/http://steamgames.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=1039 |archive-date=February 21, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |publisher=Valve |language=en}} Valve abandoned the realistic style when it became impossible to reconcile it with the unrealistic gameplay, with opposing armies having constructed elaborate bases directly adjacent to each other.{{Cite video game |title=Team Fortress 2 |developer=Valve |platform=PC |level=In-game development commentary |year=2007}}

Valve designed each character, team, and equipped weapon to be visually distinct, even at range; for example, the coloring draws attention to the chest area, bringing focus on the equipped weapon.{{Cite web |last=Hellard, Paul |date=December 1, 2007 |title=Visual Design, Comic Game Action, with a purpose |url=http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/team_fortress_2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728221014/http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/team_fortress_2 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=March 18, 2008 |work=CGSociety}} The voices for each of the classes were based on imagining what people from the 1960´s would expect the classes to have sounded like, according to writer Chet Faliszek.{{Cite magazine |last=Reeves |first=Ben |date=March 12, 2010 |title=Writer's Block: Portal 2 Writers Roundtable |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/12/feature-writers-block-valve-writers-talk-portal-2.aspx |url-status=live |magazine=Game Informer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312140258/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/12/feature-writers-block-valve-writers-talk-portal-2.aspx |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2010}}

The map design has an "evil genius" theme with archetypical spy fortresses, concealed within inconspicuous buildings such as industrial warehouses and farms to give plausibility to their close proximities; these bases are usually separated by a neutrally themed space. The bases hide exaggerated super weapons such as laser cannons, nuclear warheads, and missile launch facilities, taking the role of objectives. The maps have little visual clutter and stylized, almost impressionistic modeling, to allow enemies to be spotted more easily. The impressionistic design approach also affects textures, which are based on photos that are filtered and edited by hand, giving them a tactile quality and giving Team Fortress 2 its distinct look. The bases are designed to allow players to know immediately where they are. RED bases use warm colors, natural materials, and angular shapes, while BLU bases use cool colors, industrial materials, and orthogonal shapes.

During the July 2006 Electronic Arts press conference, Valve revealed that Team Fortress 2 would ship as the multiplayer component of The Orange Box. A conference trailer showcasing all nine of the classes demonstrated for the first time the game's cartoon-like visual style. Valve's president, Gabe Newell, said that the team's goal was to create "the best-looking and best-playing class-based multiplayer game". A beta release of the entire game was made on Steam on September 17, 2007, for customers who had pre-purchased The Orange Box, who had activated their Black Box coupon, which was included with the ATI HD 2900XT Graphics cards, and for members of Valve's Cyber Café Program.{{Cite web |last=Hatfield |first=Daemon |date=September 11, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Beta Begins Next Week |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/12/team-fortress-2-beta-begins-next-week |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219191023/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/12/team-fortress-2-beta-begins-next-week |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |work=IGN}}{{Cite web |last=McElroy |first=Justin |date=September 18, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 beta now available |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/09/18/team-fortress-2-beta-now-available/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709231639/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/18/team-fortress-2-beta-now-available/ |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |publisher=Joystiq |work=Engadget}}

Team Fortress 2 was released on October 10, 2007, both as a standalone product via Steam and at retail stores as part of The Orange Box compilation pack, priced at each gaming platform's recommended retail price. The Orange Box also contains Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, and Portal. Valve offered The Orange Box at a ten percent discount for those who pre-purchased it via Steam before the October 10 release, as well as the opportunity to participate in the beta test.{{Cite web |last=Bokitch |first=Chris |date=September 18, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 beta now open |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1209 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012190533/http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=1209 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |publisher=Valve}}

Since the release of Team Fortress 2, Valve has continually released free updates and patches through Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux users; though most patches are used for enhancing the reliability of the software or to make gameplay changes, several patches have been used to introduce new features and gameplay modes, and are often associated with marketing materials such as comics or videos offered on the Team Fortress 2 website; this blog is also used to keep players up to date with the ongoing developments in Team Fortress 2.{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2008 |title=Steam News — Team Fortress 2 Blog Available |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1636/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926012506/http://store.steampowered.com/news/1636/ |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2008}} As of July 2012, each class has been given a dedicated patch that provides new weapons, items, and other gameplay changes; these class patches typically included the release of the class's "Meet the Team" video.{{Cite web |title=Steam announcement of updates (Meet the Sniper and Pyro unlockables) |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1627/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508080949/http://store.steampowered.com/news/1627/ |archive-date=May 8, 2009 |access-date=May 22, 2009}}{{Cite web |last=Cherlin |first=Greg |date=April 2, 2009 |title=Wave goodbye to yer head, wanker |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2394 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102005207/http://teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2394 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=April 3, 2009 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} Other major patches have included new gameplay modes including the Payload, Payload Race,{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2009 |title=Team Fortress 2 – Sniper vs. Spy Update |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day02_english.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522182638/http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day02_english.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=May 21, 2009 |publisher=Valve}} Training,{{Cite web |last=McDougall |first=Jaz |date=June 11, 2010 |title=Team Fortress 2 adds training mode, Mac support |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-adds-training-mode-mac-support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028082736/http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-adds-training-mode-mac-support/ |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |website=PC Gamer}} Highlander,{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=February 4, 2010 |title=Valve Adds Highlander Mode to Team Fortress 2 |url=http://www.1up.com/news/valve-adds-highlander-mode-team |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017193502/http://www.1up.com/news/valve-adds-highlander-mode-team |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |work=1UP.com}} Medieval,{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=December 21, 2010 |title=Valve Celebrates the Miracle of Australian Christmas |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106325-Valve-Celebrates-the-Miracle-of-Australian-Christmas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224175338/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106325-Valve-Celebrates-the-Miracle-of-Australian-Christmas |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |website=The Escapist}} and Mann vs. Machine modes.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Team Fortress 2 – Mann vs. Machine |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814153816/http://www.teamfortress.com/mvm/ |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |publisher=Valve}} Themed patches have also been released, such as a yearly Halloween-themed event called "Scream Fortress", where players may obtain unique items available only during a set period around the holiday.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Mike |date=October 10, 2010 |title=Team Fortress Halloween update adds 'Headless Horsemann' |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/272536/team-fortress-halloween-update-adds-headless-horsemann/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606101026/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/272536/team-fortress-halloween-update-adds-headless-horsemann/ |archive-date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |publisher=Computer & Video Games}} Other new features have given players the ability to craft items within the game from other items,{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=December 14, 2009 |title=Valve Brings Crafting to Team Fortress 2 |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96836-Valve-Brings-Crafting-to-Team-Fortress-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702150740/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96836-Valve-Brings-Crafting-to-Team-Fortress-2 |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |website=The Escapist}} trade items with other players,{{Cite web |last=O'Conner |first=Alice |date=August 10, 2010 |title=Team Fortress 2 Getting Item Trading, Oodles of New Items Next Month |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/65093/team-fortress-2-getting-item |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708113718/http://www.shacknews.com/article/65093/team-fortress-2-getting-item |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |work=Shacknews}} purchase in-game items through funds in Steam,{{Cite web |last=Frushtick |first=Russ |date=September 30, 2010 |title='Team Fortress 2' In-Game Store Launches, Here's How It Works |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2461949/team-fortress-2-store/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111054809/http://www.mtv.com/news/2461949/team-fortress-2-store/ |archive-date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |work=MTV}} and save and edit replay videos that can be posted to YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=May 6, 2011 |title=Team Fortress 2 Update Adds Replay Editor |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/124800/Team_Fortress_2_Update_Adds_Replay_Editor.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512172907/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/124800/Team_Fortress_2_Update_Adds_Replay_Editor.php |archive-date=May 12, 2012 |access-date=May 6, 2011 |work=Gamasutra}}

Valve has released tools to allow users to create maps, weapons, and cosmetic items through a contribution site; many of the most popular are added to the game.{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2010 |title=Team Fortress 2 Update Released |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/3619/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405114328/http://store.steampowered.com/news/3619 |archive-date=April 5, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2010 |publisher=Valve}}{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2010 |title=Nice goin', pardner |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3618&p=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004430/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3618&p=1 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2010 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} This approach has subsequently created the basis for the Steam Workshop functionality of the software client.{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2010 |title=Yo, a little help here? |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3327&p=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004409/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3327&p=1 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2010 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}}{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2009 |title=Team Fortress 2 Contribute |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/contribute/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414144302/http://www.teamfortress.com/contribute/ |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2010 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} In one case, more than fifty users from the content-creation community worked with Valve to release an official content update in May 2013, with all of the content generated by these players.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=May 17, 2013 |title=Team Fortress 2's latest update, Robotic Boogaloo, is totally community-made |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/17/4340964/team-fortress-2s-latest-update-robotic-boogaloo-is-totally-community |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609172048/http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/17/4340964/team-fortress-2s-latest-update-robotic-boogaloo-is-totally-community |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=May 17, 2013 |work=Polygon}} Valve reported that as of June 2013, over $10 million has been paid back to over 400 persons who have contributed content to the game, including a total of $250,000 for the participants in the May 2013 patch.{{Cite web |last=Nunneley |first=Stephany |date=June 12, 2013 |title=Team Fortress 2 community members have made $10 million |url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/12/team-fortress-2-community-members-have-made-10-million/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618045143/http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/12/team-fortress-2-community-members-have-made-10-million/ |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2013 |work=VG247}} To help promote community-made features, Valve has released limited-time events, such as the "Gun Mettle" or "Invasion" events in the second half of 2015, also including the "Tough Break" update in December 2015, in which players can spend a small amount of money which is paid back to the community developers for the ability to gain unique items offered while playing on community-made maps during the event. Additionally, purchasable map stamps were also added, allowing players to directly support the community map creators.{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 begins its three-month Gun Mettle Campaign tomorrow |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/90282/team-fortress-2-begins-its-three-month-gun-mettle-campaign-tomorrow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702173436/http://www.shacknews.com/article/90282/team-fortress-2-begins-its-three-month-gun-mettle-campaign-tomorrow |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2015 |work=Shack News}}{{Cite web |last=Hillier |first=Brenna |date=July 2, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 Gun Mettle update delivers rare guns, weekly challenges from tomorrow |url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/07/02/team-fortress-2-gun-mettle-update-delivers-rare-guns-weekly-challenges-from-tomorrow/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703020038/http://www.vg247.com/2015/07/02/team-fortress-2-gun-mettle-update-delivers-rare-guns-weekly-challenges-from-tomorrow/ |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2015 |work=VG24/7}}{{Cite web |last=Prescott |first=Shaun |date=July 2, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 update ushers in contracts, new maps and more |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-update-ushers-in-contracts-new-maps-and-more/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702195215/http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-update-ushers-in-contracts-new-maps-and-more/ |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2015 |website=PC Gamer}}{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Matt |date=October 6, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 Invasion update lands today |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-invasion-update-lands-today/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011075648/http://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-invasion-update-lands-today/ |archive-date=October 11, 2015 |access-date=October 13, 2015 |website=PC Gamer}}

Development of the new content had been confirmed for the Xbox 360, while development for the PlayStation 3 was deemed "uncertain" by Valve.{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2008 |title=Team Fortress 2 360 DLC Details Due 'Pretty Soon,' Fate of PlayStation 3 Content Uncertain |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/52789/team-fortress-2-360-dlc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614153942/http://www.shacknews.com/article/52789/team-fortress-2-360-dlc |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=May 21, 2008 |work=Shacknews}} However, the PlayStation 3 version of Team Fortress 2 received an update which repaired some of the issues found within the game, ranging from graphical issues to online connectivity problems; this update was included in a patch that also repaired issues found in the other games within The Orange Box.{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2008 |title=The Orange Box PS3 Patch Released |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/51865/the-orange-box-ps3-patch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614181156/http://www.shacknews.com/article/51865/the-orange-box-ps3-patch |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2008}} The updates released on PC and planned for later release on Xbox 360 include new official maps and game modes, as well as tweaks to classes and new weapons that can be unlocked through the game's achievement system.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Andrew |title=Team Fortress 2 Updated Hands-On — Goldrush, New Achievements, New Items |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-2-updated-hands-on-goldrush-new-achievements-new-items/1100-6189377/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111054809/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-2-updated-hands-on-goldrush-new-achievements-new-items/1100-6189377/ |archive-date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=July 8, 2015 |work=GameSpot}} The developers attempted to negotiate with Xbox 360 developer Microsoft to keep the Xbox 360 releases of these updates free,{{Cite magazine |last=Loftus |first=Jack |date=March 5, 2008 |title=Valve wants free Team Fortress 2 expansions |url=http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=166408 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308083714/http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=166408 |archive-date=March 8, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2008 |magazine=GamePro}} but Microsoft refused and Valve announced that they would release bundles of several updates together to justify the price.{{Cite web |last=Faylor |first=Chris |date=August 22, 2008 |title=Valve Bringing Team Fortress 2 Updates to Xbox 360, Being Forced to Charge Gamers |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/54351/valve-bringing-team-fortress-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614153737/http://www.shacknews.com/article/54351/valve-bringing-team-fortress-2 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=October 16, 2008 |work=Shacknews}} Because of the cost of patching during the seventh generation of video game consoles, Valve has been unable to provide additional patches to the Xbox 360 version since 2009, effectively cancelling development of the console versions.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Tom |date=September 9, 2010 |title=Interview: Valve on 13 things they've failed at |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/interview-valve-on-13-things-theyve-failed-at/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203054423/http://www.pcgamer.com/interview-valve-on-13-things-theyve-failed-at// |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2016 |website=PC Gamer}} On March 29, 2023, the servers for the PlayStation 3 version of Team Fortress 2 went offline.{{Cite web |last=Liang |first=Lu-Hai |date=March 30, 2023 |title=Team Fortress 2 Finally Goes Offline On PS3 After 15 Years |url=https://www.thegamer.com/team-fortress-2-offline-on-ps3-after-15-years/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}

On June 10, 2010, Team Fortress 2 was released for macOS, shortly after the release of Steam for macOS. The release was teased by way of an image similar to early iPod advertising, showing a dark silhouette of the Heavy on a bright green background, his "Sandvich" highlighted in his hand.{{Cite web |last=Faylor |first=Chris |date=March 3, 2010 |title=Valve Teases Announcement with Mystery Images; Steam Coming to Mac? |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/62617/valve-teases-announcement-with-mystery |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317142128/http://www.shacknews.com/article/62617/valve-teases-announcement-with-mystery |archive-date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |work=Shacknews}} Virtual earbuds, which can be worn when playing on either macOS or Windows once acquired, were given to players playing the game on macOS before June 14,{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2010 |title=Wow, you guys are GOOD |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3929&p=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004453/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3929&p=1 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Valve}} though the giveaway period was later extended to August 16.{{Cite web |date=June 2010 |title=Team Fortress 2 – The Mac Update! – Earbuds |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/macupdate/earbuds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522152853/http://www.teamfortress.com/macupdate/earbuds/ |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |publisher=Valve}}

On November 6, 2012, Valve announced the release of Team Fortress 2 for Linux as part of a restricted beta launch of Steam on the platform.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2012 |title=Steam for Linux Beta Now Available |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/9289/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108164743/http://store.steampowered.com/news/9289/ |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2012 |publisher=Valve}} This initial release of Steam and Team Fortress 2 was targeted at Ubuntu with support for other distributions planned for the future. Later, on December 20, 2012, Valve opened up access to the beta, including Team Fortress 2, to all Steam users without the need to wait for an invitation.{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2012 |title=Steam for Linux Beta Now Available to All |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/9638/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702230340/http://store.steampowered.com/news/9638 |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=January 13, 2013 |publisher=Valve}} On February 14, 2013, Valve announced the full release of Team Fortress 2 for Linux.{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2013 |title=Team Fortress 2 is now on Linux |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=9955 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214233621/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=9955 |archive-date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=February 14, 2013 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} From then to March 1, anyone who played the game on Linux would receive a free Tux penguin, which can be equipped in-game.

Team Fortress 2 was announced in March 2013 to be the first game to officially support the Oculus Rift, a consumer-grade virtual reality headset. A patch was made to the client to include a "VR Mode" that can be used with the headset on any public server.{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Ben |date=March 18, 2013 |title=Valve's Team Fortress 2 is Oculus Rift's first game, free 'VR Mode' update coming soon |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/03/18/valve-team-fortress-2-oculus-rift/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318190224/http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/18/valve-team-fortress-2-oculus-rift/ |archive-date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |website=Engadget}}

In April 2020, source code for 2018 versions Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was leaked online. This created fears that malicious users would use the code to make remote code execution software and attack servers or players' computers. Several fan projects halted development until the impact of the leak could be determined.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=April 22, 2020 |title=Team Fortress 2 and CS:GO source code leak raises security fears |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/source-code-leak-csgo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422212240/https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/source-code-leak-csgo |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |access-date=April 22, 2020 |website=PCGamesN}} Valve confirmed the legitimacy of the code leaks, but stated they do not believe it affects servers and clients running the latest official builds of either game.{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Mathew |date=April 22, 2020 |title=Valve Says Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike Source Code Leak Is No Cause for Alarm |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/team-fortress-2-counter-strike-global-offensive-code-leaks-source-valve-response |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429224507/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/team-fortress-2-counter-strike-global-offensive-code-leaks-source-valve-response |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |access-date=April 22, 2020 |website=USGamer}}

On May 1, 2020, shortly following the death of the voice actor of the Soldier, Rick May, Valve released an update to Team Fortress 2, adding a tribute to his voicework as the Soldier in the form of a new main menu theme (a rendition of Taps), as well as statues of the Soldier saluting, added to most of the official in-game maps. These statues all featured a commemorative plaque dedicated to May and lasted through the end of the month.{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=May 2, 2020 |title=Rick May tribute added to Team Fortress 2 |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/au/rick-may-tribute-added-to-team-fortress-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503041727/https://www.pcgamer.com/au/rick-may-tribute-added-to-team-fortress-2/ |archive-date=May 3, 2020}} One of these statues, appearing on the map "cp_granary", the setting of the "Meet the Soldier" short video, was made permanent in an August 21 update.{{Cite news |last=Morton |first=Lauren |date=August 24, 2020 |title=Team Fortress 2 adds a permanent tribute to Soldier voice actor Rick May |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/team-fortress-2-adds-a-permanent-tribute-to-soldier-voice-actor-rick-may |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618183555/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/team-fortress-2-adds-a-permanent-tribute-to-soldier-voice-actor-rick-may |archive-date=June 18, 2021}}

On February 9, 2023, a blog post was made on the official Team Fortress 2 website, saying that a new "update-sized" update was coming to the game (the last major update had taken place in October 2017). The post included a call to Steam Workshop creators to submit content which had a chance to be selected for inclusion, with a submission deadline of May 1.{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Attention, Steam Workshop Creators! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=189493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216163948/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=189493 |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=TeamFortress.com |publisher=TF2 Team}}{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Team Fortress 2 Gets a Full On Update Sized Update This Summer Valve Says |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-gets-a-full-on-update-sized-update-this-summer-valve-says |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218021322/https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-gets-a-full-on-update-sized-update-this-summer-valve-says |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |access-date=February 22, 2023 |website=eurogamer.net}} The announcement was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception, causing Valve to temper expectations by amending the blog post to read "holiday-sized update".{{Cite web |date=2023-02-16 |title=Valve Edits Blog Post, Walking Back Team Fortress 2 Hype |url=https://kotaku.com/tf2-team-fortress-2-valve-update-holiday-pc-steam-1850120486 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Kotaku |language=en}} Valve released the update on July 12, 2023, which included 14 community created maps that notably included a variant of the popular 'Versus Saxton Hale' gamemode.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=206148 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.teamfortress.com}} The update ascended Team Fortress 2 to 253,997 concurrent players, its highest ever player count to date.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Anthony |date=2023-07-13 |title=Team Fortress 2 Just Smashed Its All-Time Concurrent Player Record Following Major Summer Update |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/team-fortress-2-just-smashed-its-all-time-concurrent-player-record-following-major-summer-update |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2007's Team Fortress 2 hits new record at 254K concurrent players |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/-i-team-fortress-2-i-hits-new-all-time-concurrent-player-count |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-27 |title=Chaos Erupts As Team Fortress 2 Jacks Player Count Up To 100 |url=https://kotaku.com/tf2-team-fortress-2-valve-100-players-servers-update-pc-1850684346 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}

On April 18, 2024, after testing on Windows and Linux,{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=Team Fortress 2 has a 64bit and Vulkan update for Linux in testing |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/01/team-fortress-2-has-a-64bit-and-vulkan-update-for-linux-in-testing/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}} Valve released an update to Team Fortress 2, adding 64-bit support to the game,{{Cite news |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=2024-04-19 |title=Team Fortress 2 joins us in the modern age as Valve updates the 17 year old shooter to 64-bit |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/team-fortress-2-joins-us-in-the-modern-age-as-valve-updates-the-17-year-old-shooter-to-64-bit/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-20 |title=Team Fortress 2 update introduces 64-bit support and defaults to 400fps gameplay |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/102688-team-fortress-2-update-introduces-64-bit-support.html |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=TechSpot |language=en-US}} increasing the frame rate by an average of 22 percent,{{Cite web |author1=Catherine Lewis |date=2024-04-19 |title=After years of abandonment, Team Fortress 2 fans rejoice over a patch that grants 25% extra FPS |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-years-of-abandonment-team-fortress-2-fans-rejoice-over-a-patch-that-grants-25-extra-fps/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=gamesradar |language=en}} although it was falsely detected as malware by some anti-virus software.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=New TF2 update boosts your frame rate and stops antivirus issues |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/update-64-bit |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

On June 17, 2024, Valve dropped macOS support for Team Fortress 2, among other legacy Valve titles that were previously supporting it, along with removing the Apple icon from the website's download button.{{Cite web |title=Valve drops Mac support for Team Fortress 2, Portal 2, other titles |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/valve-drops-mac-support-for-team-fortress-2-portal-2-other-titles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730073640/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/valve-drops-mac-support-for-team-fortress-2-portal-2-other-titles |archive-date=2024-07-30 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}} The macOS port of Team Fortress 2 was not natively playable on any version beyond macOS Mojave, which Apple released in 2018 and supported until 2021. The lack of ongoing macOS support is largely attributable to Apple's use of its proprietary Metal graphics drivers, which are not officially compatible with the widely available Vulkan API that Team Fortress 2 can now run on.

On October 25, 2024, an update was released that fixed a bug where the BLU Team Scout was wearing brown pants (identical to the RED Scout's pants) rather than the intended blue pants matching the BLU Team's color scheme. The update received notable attention due to the perceived absurdity of fixing such a bug 17 years into the game's lifespan. It was reverted a day later, citing that it led to inconsistencies with existing cosmetic items that were based on the broken color scheme.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/valve-tf2-team-fortress-2-blu-scout-pants-fixed-bug-1851681669|title=Valve Fixed A 17-Year-Old Team Fortress 2 Bug Involving Pants}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/17-years-later-valve-fixes-team-fortress-2-bug-that-made-scouts-pants-the-wrong-color-bug-so-old-it-could-have-enlisted-with-parental-consent/|title=Capricious Valve fixes 17 year-old Team Fortress 2 bug that made Scout's pants the wrong color, almost immediately un-fixes it}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/470407/team-fortress-2-update-blue-scout-pants-valve|title=Major Team Fortress 2 update finally fixes the Scout’s pants}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/blue-scout-pants-reverted|title=Valve reverses Team Fortress 2’s ‘biggest’ change in 17 years after just one day}}

The Team Fortress 2 client and server source code was added to Valve's public software development kit (SDK) for the Source engine in February 2025, with the intent to allow creators to modify the game as much as they want and publish these via Steam, only requiring that such changes be released for free.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/valve-adds-all-the-team-fortress-2-client-and-server-game-code-to-its-source-mod-tools-letting-modders-build-completely-new-games-based-on-tf2-and-publish-them-on-steam/ | title = Valve adds "all the Team Fortress 2 client and server game code" to its Source mod tools, letting modders "build completely new games based on TF2" and publish them on Steam | first = Dustin | last = Bailey | date = February 18, 2025 | accessdate = February 18, 2025 | work = GamesRadar }}

On June 23, 2011, Valve announced that Team Fortress 2 would become free-to-play. Unique equipment including weapons and outfits would be available as microtransactions through the in-game store, tied through Steam.{{Cite web |last=Crossley |first=Rob |date=June 23, 2011 |title=Valve: Team Fortress 2 is free forever |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/38103/Team-Fortress-2-becomes-free-forever |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627082805/http://www.develop-online.net/news/38103/Team-Fortress-2-becomes-free-forever |archive-date=June 27, 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2011 |website=Develop}} Walker stated that Valve would continue to provide new features and items free. Walker stated that Valve had learned that the more players Team Fortress 2 had, the more value it had for each player.

The move came a week after Valve introduced several third-party free-to-play games to Steam and stated they were working on a new free-to-play game.{{Cite web |last=Funk |first=John |date=June 20, 2011 |title=Valve Says It's Working on a Free-to-Play Game |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111168-Valve-Says-Its-Working-on-a-Free-to-Play-Game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623190435/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111168-Valve-Says-Its-Working-on-a-Free-to-Play-Game |archive-date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=June 20, 2011 |website=The Escapist}} Within nine months of becoming free to play, Valve reported that revenue from Team Fortress 2 had increased by a factor of twelve.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Patrick |date=March 7, 2012 |title=GDC 2012: How Valve made Team Fortress 2 free-to-play |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/164922/GDC_2012_How_Valve_made_Team_Fortress_2_freetoplay.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021075753/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/164922/GDC_2012_How_Valve_made_Team_Fortress_2_freetoplay.php |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2012 |work=Gamasutra}}

In early 2020, Team Fortress 2 saw a drastic increase in bot accounts entering Valve's casual matchmaking servers. Though bot accounts had been an issue in Team Fortress 2 for some time prior to this, multiple sources began to report a spike in activity for these bot accounts. The activities of these bots have included forcibly crashing servers, spamming obscenities and copypastas in text chats or audio in the voice chats of matches, assuming other players' usernames to confuse players attempting to kick them from the server, and the usage of aimbot cheating software.{{Cite web |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=April 7, 2020 |title=Team Fortress 2 is under attack by bots, and not the fun kind (Updated) |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/au/team-fortress-2-is-under-attack-by-bots-and-not-the-fun-kind/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501235425/https://www.pcgamer.com/au/team-fortress-2-is-under-attack-by-bots-and-not-the-fun-kind/ |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |website=PC Gamer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Emma |date=June 17, 2020 |title=Valve tackles Team Fortress 2's racist bot problem |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-06-17-valve-tackles-team-fortress-2s-racist-bot-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104053401/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-06-17-valve-tackles-team-fortress-2s-racist-bot-problem |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020 |website=Eurogamer}} Additionally, some bots were programmed after a TF2 source code leak which Valve had confirmed in April 2020.

On June 16, 2020, Valve responded to this by restricting accounts that have not paid for Mann Co. Store items or purchased Team Fortress 2 prior to the game becoming free-to-play from the use of both voice and text chat in game.{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2020 |title=Team Fortress 2's racist bot problem is finally getting Valve's attention |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/racist-bots |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418092611/https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/racist-bots |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last1=Clayton |first1=Natalie |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Team Fortress 2's latest strike against bots is silencing new players |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/team-fortress-2s-latest-strike-against-bots-is-silencing-new-players |access-date=July 3, 2023 |language=en}} On June 24, all players were restricted from changing their Steam username while connected to any Valve matchmaking server or any server with display name updates disabled. The change was implemented to prevent bots from changing their display name to impersonate legitimate players, which allowed the bots to avoid being kicked due to the confusion caused by their duplicate name. On voting, changes were also introduced to prevent bots from spamming this functionality in an attempt to prevent bots from kicking real players.{{Cite news |date=June 24, 2021 |title=Team Fortress 2 update takes aim at the game's bot problem – again |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-update-takes-aim-at-the-games-bot-problem-again |access-date=July 2, 2023 |language=en-GB}}

On June 22, 2021, additional changes were implemented to discourage bot activity.{{Cite web |last=Clayton |first=Natalie |date=June 23, 2021 |title=Team Fortress 2's latest bot-fighting update might actually work |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2s-latest-bot-fighting-update-might-actually-work/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626162517/https://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2s-latest-bot-fighting-update-might-actually-work/ |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=June 26, 2021 |website=PC Gamer}} The YouTuber "Toofty" posted a video which provided input from several of those responsible for the bots; their reasons for hosting the bots ranged from grievances against Valve to simply taking pleasure in the disruption.{{Cite web |last=Adderson |first=Russell |date=October 6, 2022 |title=How the Team Fortress 2 community brought it back from the brink |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-the-team-fortress-2-community-brought-it-back-from-the-brink/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006201754/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-the-team-fortress-2-community-brought-it-back-from-the-brink/ |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=PC Gamer}}

These issues remained ongoing as of May 2022, prompting the YouTuber "SquimJim" to uploaded a video to his YouTube page encouraging his viewers to express any displeasure to Valve and news outlets by sending emails. After receiving over a hundred news tips, IGN writer Rebekah Valentine wrote of her experience with trying to play the game. She remarked that the game was "literally unplayable" on official Valve servers, forcing many players to join unofficial community servers instead. She also said that some bots would "...spam chat with homophobic or racist remarks, outside links, or just plain rude or obnoxious messages".{{Cite news |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Team Fortress 2 Players Are Protesting the Game's Massive Bot Problem |work=IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/team-fortress-2-players-protesting-massive-bot-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514005405/https://www.ign.com/articles/team-fortress-2-players-protesting-massive-bot-problem |archive-date=May 14, 2022}} In response to these issues, Robin Atkin Downes, the voice actor for the Medic, also reached out to his contacts at Valve for a response, and encouraged fans to continue making their voices heard in a "peaceful, passionate manner".{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Iain |date=May 23, 2022 |title=Team Fortress 2 voice actor makes community's botting frustrations known to Valve |work=GamesRadar |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/team-fortress-botting-problem/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524120348/https://www.gamesradar.com/team-fortress-botting-problem/ |archive-date=May 24, 2022}}

{{anchor|SaveTF2}}

On May 26, 2022, members of the game's community held a "peaceful protest" on Twitter using the hashtag '#savetf2', with the goal of receiving a response from Valve.{{Cite news |last=Masters |first=Tim |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Team Fortress 2 fans get #SaveTF2 trending on Twitter in attempt to pressure Valve into action |work=Inven Global |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/17294/team-fortress-2-fans-get-savetf2-trending-on-twitter-in-attempt-to-pressure-valve-into-action |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526174812/https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/17294/team-fortress-2-fans-get-savetf2-trending-on-twitter-in-attempt-to-pressure-valve-into-action |archive-date=May 26, 2022}} Valve responded, saying, "TF2 community, we hear you! We love this game and know you do, too. We see how large this issue has become and are working to improve things."{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Valve Responds to #SaveTF2, Says It's Working on Improvements |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-responds-savetf2-working-improvements |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526095155/https://www.ign.com/articles/team-fortress-2-players-protesting-massive-bot-problem |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |website=IGN}}{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=May 26, 2022 |title=Team Fortress 2 community bands together for "peaceful protest" to #SaveTF2 |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-community-bands-together-for-peaceful-protest-to-savetf2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526211351/https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-community-bands-together-for-peaceful-protest-to-savetf2 |archive-date=May 26, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Gilliam |first=Ryan |date=2022-05-27 |title=Team Fortress 2's long-running bot problems draw protest — and a Valve response |url=https://www.polygon.com/23144312/team-fortress-2-valve-savetf2-peaceful-protest-bots |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Allsop |first=Ken |date=2022-05-27 |title=Valve responds to Team Fortress 2 fans' #SaveTF2 campaign |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/valve-savetf2-campaign |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

Across June and July 2022, Valve released a number of patches to help players deal with the bot issue, such as altering the game's vote-kicking system so that each team may engage a vote kick regardless whether the opposing team is doing so.{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Team Fortress 2's Latest Update Makes It Easier To Kick All Those Bots |url=https://kotaku.com/tf2-team-fortress-2-valve-shooter-bots-update-fix-vote-1849094168 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629073759/https://kotaku.com/tf2-team-fortress-2-valve-shooter-bots-update-fix-vote-1849094168 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Toussaint |date=2022-06-22 |title=Valve takes aim at bots and exploits in new Team Fortress 2 update |url=https://www.polygon.com/23178358/valve-team-fortress-2-update-bots-fan-campaign |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Allsop |first=Ken |date=2022-06-22 |title=Team Fortress 2 update lets you boot bots faster, unless they kick you |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/update-vote-kick-bots |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} Valve took down the servers for five minutes in August 2022, during which a number of bans were issued via Valve Anti-Cheat to players that were known to be running these bots.

{{anchor|FixTF2}}

Bots slowly began to resurface thereafter, and in January 2024, the '#savetf2' hashtag re-emerged on social media as the issue neared the severity it was a couple years prior, as well as to highlight a lack of promised fixes to other parts of the game.{{Cite web |last=Lowry |first=Brendan |date=2024-01-12 |title=Desperate Team Fortress 2 fans get #SaveTF2 trending again after Valve pledged to fix the cheater Bot Crisis, then didn't |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/desperate-team-fortress-2-fans-get-save-tf2-trending-again |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Windows Central |language=en}} Another online protest was held on June 3, 2024, this time with the "#FixTF2" hashtag and an online petition intended to be sent to Valve directly that has amassed over 300,000 signatures.{{Cite web |title=#SaveTf2 Petition |url=https://save.tf |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=save.tf}}{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=June 4, 2024 |title=Kotaku: Over 200k Team Fortress 2 Fans Want Valve To Fix The Game |url=https://kotaku.com/tf2-team-fortress-bots-valve-fan-petition-fix-pc-fixtf2-1851519583 |access-date=June 6, 2024}} The day after, the game received waves of negative reviews on the Steam store page as part of a campaign by users for Valve to take action against the bots.{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2024-06-04 |title=Team Fortress 2 Steam Reviews Drop to 'Mostly Negative' as Players Plead With Valve to Do Something About Bots |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/team-fortress-2-steam-reviews-drop-to-mostly-negative-as-players-plead-with-valve-to-do-something-about-bots |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lowry |first=Brendan |date=2024-06-03 |title="Enough is enough": Over 200,000 Team Fortress 2 players sign #FixTF2 petition for Valve to end the 'Bot Crisis' as Steam reviews plunge to 'Mostly Negative' [UPDATED] |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/over-120000-team-fortress-2-players-sign-fix-tf2-petition-for-valve-to-end-the-bot-crisis |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Will |date=2024-06-04 |title=Team Fortress 2 drops to 'Mostly Negative' Steam reviews for the first time ever |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/steam-reviews |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} Downes also returned to support the new protest.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ed |date=2024-06-07 |title=Team Fortress 2 Medic says he wishes he could "heal" the game |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/medic-savetf2-campaign |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Cryer|first=Hirun|date=2024-06-07|title=Team Fortress 2 actor throws support behind players speaking against the state of the shooter: "I have never seen such passion"|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/team-fortress-2-actor-throws-support-behind-players-speaking-against-the-state-of-the-shooter-i-have-never-seen-such-passion/}} On June 28, multiple outlets reported that another wave of bans to bot accounts and their hosts had been issued.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=2024-06-28 |title=Team Fortress 2 players report that Valve have carried out a ban-wave against aimbots |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/team-fortress-2-players-report-that-valve-have-carried-out-a-ban-wave-against-aimbots |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-06-28 |title=Team Fortress 2 aimbots are being quietly banned by Valve |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/team-fortress-2-aimbots-are-being-quietly-banned-by-valve |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barovic |first=Andrej |date=2024-06-28 |title=Valve may have issued a massive ban wave on Team Fortress 2 bots—but the issue still looms |url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/valve-may-have-issued-a-massive-ban-wave-on-team-fortress-2-bots-but-the-issue-still-looms |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The following day, Valve updated their support page for the game to mention that game bans would not be reverted.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Will |date=June 29, 2024 |title=Valve rejects Team Fortress 2 ban appeals with a resounding "no" |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/team-fortress-2/bot-bans |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=PCGamesN}}

{{External media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHy7G7ndrUmpWqBkNKjJRT5urGiPW63Iq "Meet the Team" playlist on YouTube]}}

Beginning in May 2007, to promote the game, Valve began a ten-video advertisement series referred to as "Meet the Team". Constructed using Source Filmmaker and using more detailed character models, the series consists of short videos introducing each class (as they appear on RED) and displaying their personalities and abilities. The videos are usually interspersed with simulated gameplay footage. The format of the videos varies greatly; the first installment, "Meet the Heavy", depicts him being interviewed, while "Meet the Soldier" shows the Soldier giving a misinformed lecture on Sun Tzu to a row of severed BLU heads as if they were raw recruits. He claims Sun Tzu "invented" fighting, then further confuses this claim with the story of Noah and his Ark.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Soldier |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/soldier.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106112210/http://www.teamfortress.com/soldier.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}} The videos were generally released through Valve's official YouTube channels, though in one notable exception, the "Meet the Spy" video was leaked onto YouTube several days before its intended release, due to a glitch with iPhone Youtube users that caused them to be able to view private videos.{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Mike |date=May 16, 2009 |title=Meet the Spy, Quite The Ladies Man |url=http://kotaku.com/5257925/meet-the-spy-quite-the-ladies-man |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520011115/http://kotaku.com/5257925/meet-the-spy-quite-the-ladies-man |archive-date=May 20, 2009 |access-date=May 17, 2009 |work=Kotaku}}{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Robin |date=May 18, 2009 |title=Getting to the bottom of things |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2515 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619081108/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2515 |archive-date=June 19, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2009 |website=Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Valve}}{{Cite web |title=Meet the Spy - Official TF2 Wiki {{!}} Official Team Fortress Wiki |url=https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Meet_the_Spy |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=wiki.teamfortress.com |language=en}}

Early "Meet the Team" videos were based on the audition scripts used for the voice actors for each of the classes; "Meet the Heavy" is nearly word-for-word a copy of the Heavy's audition script. Later videos, such as "Meet the Sniper", contain more original material.{{Cite web |last=Tolito |first=Stephan |date=May 31, 2009 |title=Valve Dreams Of Team Fortress 2 Movie, Divulges 'Meet The Team' Origins |url=http://kotaku.com/5273555/valve-dreams-of-team-fortress-2-movie-divulges-meet-the-team-origins |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602200729/http://kotaku.com/5273555/valve-dreams-of-team-fortress-2-movie-divulges-meet-the-team-origins |archive-date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2009 |work=Kotaku}} The videos have been used by Valve to help improve the technology for the game, specifically improving the facial animations, as well as a source of new gameplay elements, such as the Heavy's "Sandvich" or the Sniper's "Jarate". The final video in the Meet the Team series, "Meet the Pyro", was released on June 27, 2012.{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2012 |title=It's Finally Time to Meet the Pyro |url=http://kotaku.com/5921765/its-finally-time-to-meet-the-pyro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124082804/http://kotaku.com/5921765/its-finally-time-to-meet-the-pyro |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |work=Kotaku}}{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2012 |title=Meet the Truly Demented Mind of the Pyro |url=http://www.gameverse.com/2012/06/27/meet-the-pyro/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829055645/http://www.gameverse.com/2012/06/27/meet-the-pyro/ |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |work=Gameverse}} Gabe Newell has stated that Valve used the "Meet the Team" series as a means of exploring the possibilities of making feature film movies themselves. He believes that only game developers themselves have the ability to bring the interesting parts of a game to a film, and suggested that this would be the only manner through which a Half-Life-based movie would be made.{{Cite web |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=August 30, 2010 |title=Newell: Game-Makers Are Best Equipped To Turn Games Into Movies |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30146/Newell_GameMakers_Are_Best_Equipped_To_Turn_Games_Into_Movies.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902142551/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30146/Newell_GameMakers_Are_Best_Equipped_To_Turn_Games_Into_Movies.php |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |work=Gamasutra}} A fifteen-minute short, "Expiration Date", was released on June 17, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Lahti |first=Evan |date=June 18, 2014 |title=Valve releases 15-minute Team Fortress 2 "Expiration Date" short for Love and War update |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-releases-15-minute-team-fortress-2-expiration-date-short-as-part-of-love-war-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804020232/http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-releases-15-minute-team-fortress-2-expiration-date-short-as-part-of-love-war-update/ |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=May 30, 2016 |website=PC Gamer}} The shorts were made using Source Filmmaker, which was officially released and has been in open beta as of July 11, 2012.{{Cite web |last=Daw |first=David |date=July 12, 2012 |title=Trying Out Valve's Movie Making Tools With the Source Filmmaker |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/259127/trying_out_valves_movie_making_tools_with_the_source_filmmaker.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713182803/http://www.pcworld.com/article/259127/trying_out_valves_movie_making_tools_with_the_source_filmmaker.html |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2012}}

{{main|Team Fortress comics}}

In more recent major updates to the game, Valve has presented teaser images and online comic books that expand the fictional continuity and characters of Team Fortress 2, as part of the expansion of the "cross-media property", according to Newell. In August 2009, Valve brought aboard American comic writer Michael Avon Oeming to teach Valve "about what it means to have a character and do character development in a comic format, how you do storytelling".{{Cite web |last=O'Conner |first=Alice |date=August 14, 2009 |title=Valve Talks Team Fortress 2 Comic Book Plans, Movie and TV Show Possibilities |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/59993/valve-talks-team-fortress-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614153903/http://www.shacknews.com/article/59993/valve-talks-team-fortress-2 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |work=Shacknews}} "Loose Canon", a comic associated with the Engineer Update, establishes the history of RED versus BLU as a result of the last will and testament of Zepheniah Mann in 1890, forcing his two bickering sons Blutarch and Redmond to vie for control of Zepheniah's lands between them; both have engineered ways of maintaining their mortality to the present, waiting to outlast the other while employing separate forces to try to wrest control of the land.{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=July 5, 2010 |title=TF2 Update: The Engineer With the Golden Wrench |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101872-TF2-Update-The-Engineer-With-the-Golden-Wrench |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708012214/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101872-TF2-Update-The-Engineer-With-the-Golden-Wrench |archive-date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |website=The Escapist}} This and other comics also establish other background characters such as Saxton Hale, the CEO of Mann Co., the company that provides the weapons for the two sides and was bequeathed to one of Hale's ancestors by Zepheniah, and the Administrator, the game's announcer, that watches over, encourages the RED/BLU conflict, and keeps each side from winning.{{Cite web |last=Funk |first=John |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Valve Teases TF2 Demoman and Soldier Updates |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96688-Valve-Teases-TF2-Demoman-and-Soldier-Updates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214083154/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96688-Valve-Teases-TF2-Demoman-and-Soldier-Updates |archive-date=February 14, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |website=The Escapist}} The collected comics were published by Dark Horse Comics in Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories, a volume along with other comics created by Valve for Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead, and released in November 2011.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=July 11, 2011 |title=Comic Book Based On Valve Strips Coming This November |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35767/Comic_Book_Based_On_Valve_Strips_Coming_This_November.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714032247/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35767/Comic_Book_Based_On_Valve_Strips_Coming_This_November.php |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |work=Gamasutra}} Cumulative details in updates both in-game and on Valve's sites from 2010 through 2012 were part of a larger alternate reality game preceding the reveal of the Mann vs. Machine mode, which was revealed as a co-op mode on August 15, 2012.{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen |date=August 12, 2012 |title=Team Fortress 2's Gray Mann Surfaces as Signs Point to All-Robot Faction |url=http://kotaku.com/5933981/?comment=51784184 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816032312/http://kotaku.com/5933981/?comment=51784184 |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |work=Kotaku}}{{Cite web |last=Hillier |first=Brenna |date=August 12, 2012 |title=Team Fortress 2 to add third, robotic faction – rumour |url=http://www.vg247.com/2012/08/13/team-fortress-2-to-add-third-robotic-faction-rumour/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814002653/http://www.vg247.com/2012/08/13/team-fortress-2-to-add-third-robotic-faction-rumour/ |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |work=VG247}} An additional series of seven comic stories around the characters of Team Fortress 2 were published sporadically by Valve from 2013 through 2024, simply titled Team Fortress.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/after-7-years-the-final-team-fortress-2-comic-is-finally-here-wrapping-up-an-11-year-saga-with-a-touching-tribute-to-the-late-voice-actor-who-played-soldier/ | title = After 7 years, the final Team Fortress 2 comic is finally here, wrapping up an 11-year saga with a touching tribute to the late voice actor who played Soldier | first = Jordan | last =Gerblick | date = December 20, 2024 | accessdate = December 20, 2024 | work = GamesRadar }}

Valve had provided other promotions to draw players into the game. Valve held weekends of free play for Team Fortress 2 before the game was made free-to-play.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Valve Interview Part 2: Left 4 Dead Demo Potential, the Evolution of Steam, and More |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/52830/valve-interview-part-2-left |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614225845/http://www.shacknews.com/article/52830/valve-interview-part-2-left |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=July 2, 2008 |work=Shacknews}} Through various updates, hats and accessories can be worn by any of the classes, giving players an ability to customize the look of their character, and extremely rare hats named "Unusuals" have particle effects attached to it and are only obtainable through opening "crates" or trading with other players. Cosmetic items can also be obtained through the Steam Community Market, which Valve released in 2013.{{Cite web |title=News - Steam Community Market Now In Beta |url=https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/9594 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}} New weapons were added in updates to allow the player to choose a loadout and play style that best suits them.

Hats and weapons can be gained as a random drop, through the crafting/trading systems, or via cross-promotion: Limited-edition hats and weapons have been awarded for pre-ordering or gaining Achievements in other content from Steam, both from Valve (such as Left 4 Dead 2{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2009 |title=Pre-Order Giveaway Madness! |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3045 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102005655/http://teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3045 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |publisher=Valve}}{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Free Hats! |url=http://teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4441&p=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128174430/http://teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4441&p=1 |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |publisher=Valve}} and Alien Swarm) or other third-party games such as Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse,{{Cite news |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=April 16, 2010 |title=TF2 owners get Sam & Max loot |work=Eurogamer |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/tf2-owners-get-sam-and-max-loot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524095041/https://www.eurogamer.net/tf2-owners-get-sam-and-max-loot |archive-date=May 24, 2022}} Worms Reloaded,{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=J. |date=August 25, 2010 |title=Describe Team Fortress 2's hats in the TF2 Hat Describing Contest |work=Engadget |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-08-25-describe-team-fortress-2s-hats-in-the-tf2-hat-describing-contes.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524094513/https://www.engadget.com/2010-08-25-describe-team-fortress-2s-hats-in-the-tf2-hat-describing-contes.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022}} Killing Floor,{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Rory |date=December 9, 2010 |title='Killing Floor' Twisted Christmas Event Begins December 14 |work=Game Rant |url=https://gamerant.com/killing-floor-twisted-christmas-team-fortress-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524094118/https://gamerant.com/killing-floor-twisted-christmas-team-fortress-2/ |archive-date=May 24, 2022}} or Poker Night at the Inventory (which features the Heavy class as a character).{{Cite news |last=Senior |first=Tom |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Win TF2 items in Poker Night at the Inventory |work=PCGamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/win-tf2-items-in-poker-night-at-the-inventory/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619073148/https://www.pcgamer.com/win-tf2-items-in-poker-night-at-the-inventory/ |archive-date=June 19, 2021}} According to Robin Walker, Valve introduced these additional hats as an indirect means for players to show status within the game or their affiliation with another game series simply by visual appearance.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Tom |date=August 20, 2010 |title=Valve on the future of Team Fortress 2. Part Two |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-on-the-future-of-team-fortress-2-part-two/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022064114/http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-on-the-future-of-team-fortress-2-part-two/ |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2010 |website=PC World}}

The Pyro, Heavy, and Spy all function as a single playable character in the PC release of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.{{YouTube|YVjKx0rS1OE|Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – PC Trailer}} The Pyro, Medic, Engineer, and Heavy appear as playable characters in Dungeon of the Endless.{{Cite web |last=Zacny |first=Rob |date=June 8, 2015 |title=Team Fortress 2 characters invade Dungeon of the Endless |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/dungeon-of-the-endless/team-fortress-2-characters-invade-dungeon-of-the-endless |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715130941/https://www.pcgamesn.com/dungeon-of-the-endless/team-fortress-2-characters-invade-dungeon-of-the-endless |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |website=PCGamesN}} The Pyro was added as a playable character to Killing Floor in 2010, along with appearing as a henchman in the 2021 game Evil Genius 2.{{Cite web |last=Beckhelling |first=Imogen |date=July 15, 2021 |title=Evil Genius 2 adds Team Fortress 2's Pyro |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/evil-genius-2-adds-team-fortress-2s-pyro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715113016/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/evil-genius-2-adds-team-fortress-2s-pyro |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}

The game's first television commercial premiered during the first episode of the fifth season of The Venture Bros. in June 2013, featuring in-game accessories that were created with the help of Adult Swim.{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Team Fortress 2 Gets Its Very Own TV Commercial |url=http://kotaku.com/team-fortress-2-gets-its-very-own-tv-commercial-511114776 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608105505/http://kotaku.com/team-fortress-2-gets-its-very-own-tv-commercial-511114776 |archive-date=June 8, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013 |work=Kotaku}}

Valve has licensed intellectual property from Team Fortress 2 to many different game development and pop culture companies. Valve has collaborated with NECA and [https://www.threezerohk.com/about-us/ threezero] to produce action figures of the nine classes.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-20 |title=Team Fortress 2: The Engineer Statue |url=http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/team-fortress-2-the-engineer-statue/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Action Figure Insider |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Aziz |first=Hamza |date=2013-09-27 |title=ThreeA's TF2 Robot Heavy now up for pre-orders |url=https://www.destructoid.com/threeas-tf2-robot-heavy-now-up-for-pre-orders/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US}} Valve has also licensed Team Fortress 2's classes to Funko, who released POP! vinyls of the Heavy, Medic and Scout in 2017.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-17 |title=Coming Soon From Funko: Valve Team Fortress 2, & Portal Pop!s |url=http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/coming-soon-from-funko-valve-team-fortress-2-portal-pops/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Action Figure Insider |language=en}} In 2014, Valve licensed the classes for use in the FaceRig program. Team Fortress 2 classes have also featured in Evil Genius 2{{Cite web |title=Evil Genius 2: Team Fortress 2 - Pyro Pack |url=https://store.playstation.com/en-hu/product/EP4529-PPSA04169_00-EVILGENIUS2DLC04 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=store.playstation.com}} and Fall Guys.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Sean |date=2020-08-13 |title=Team Fortress 2 Makes Cameo In Fall Guys With Scout Costume |url=https://www.thegamer.com/team-fortress-2-fall-guys-scout-costume/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}

== Items and economy ==

In Team Fortress 2, players can trade with others for items such as weapons and cosmetics.{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Craig |date=January 11, 2013 |title=Valve's Robin Walker on six figure item sales and the future of modding |work=PCGamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-robin-walker-on-six-figure-item-sales-and-the-future-of-modding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412002926/https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-robin-walker-on-six-figure-item-sales-and-the-future-of-modding/ |archive-date=April 12, 2022}} This functionality was added in the 2010 Mann-Conomy Update, alongside being able to purchase items through an in-game store with real money.{{Cite news |last=Francis |first=Tom |date=September 30, 2010 |title=Team Fortress 2 now selling items for real money, massive update just launched |work=PCGamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-now-selling-items-for-real-money-massive-update-just-launched/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121210440/https://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-now-selling-items-for-real-money-massive-update-just-launched/ |archive-date=November 21, 2021}} Operating largely through informal gray markets before the introduction of the official Steam Community Market,{{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=Natalie |date=December 17, 2021 |title=Steam might not like NFTs, but it laid the groundwork for them |work=PCGamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-might-not-like-nfts-but-it-laid-the-groundwork-for-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101192241/https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-might-not-like-nfts-but-it-laid-the-groundwork-for-them/ |archive-date=January 1, 2022}} trading items made players susceptible to fraud.{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Taylor |date=November 14, 2012 |title=Investigation of TF2 Earbud trading may have uncovered major organized fraud |work=PCGamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/personal-investigation-of-suspicious-tf2-earbud-trading-uncovers-potentially-nefarious-scheme/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219140310/https://www.pcgamer.com/personal-investigation-of-suspicious-tf2-earbud-trading-uncovers-potentially-nefarious-scheme/ |archive-date=December 19, 2021}}

Team Fortress 2 features an in-built item valuing system known as an item quality, assigned to a given instance of an item through a variety of different means and ranging from "Normal" items used as the stock weapons of each class, to "Unique" items used as the base obtainable items from the item drop or achievement systems, to far rarer qualities such as "Strange", "Unusual" or "Decorated" which feature special cosmetic effects that can immensely increase the market value of a given item; Strange items keep track of kills or other objectives achieved while equipped in-game while Unusual items feature item-specific particle effects, with both Strange and Unusual items being obtainable through rare crafting items or randomly obtained in place of the far more common Unique items. Decorated items are instead redeemed from rare items known as "war paints", awarding the player a weapon retextured with a pseudo-random cosmetic skin. Other qualities include "Vintage", awarded to older items to compensate for changes in obtainability, and "Collector's", created through combining 200 Unique instances of a single item.

Cosmetics and war paints are typically released through seasonal "cases" that award a random item from an associated collection unique to the given season of a specific year. Such items are additionally assigned a "grade" from "Civilian" to "Mercenary" to track their relative rarity within a collection.

The Mann versus Machine mode introduced unique live service rewards, including killstreak-tracking attachment "kits" for weapons, and "Botkiller" and "Australium" variants of existing weapons that act as Strange weapons by default.

File:Something Special For Someone Special main menu alert.png

On Valentine's Day of 2012, a particular item was added called "Something Special for Someone Special", a $100 wedding ring that can be gifted to other players. Upon receiving and accepting the ring, a message is broadcast to everyone currently in-game, noting the player and recipient's names as well as the name used on the ring. This item has been described by various news outlets as "humorous".{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2012-02-15 |title=‘Team Fortress 2’ celebrates Valentine’s Day by charging lovestruck fools $100 for virtual wedding rings |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/14/2798961/tf2-valentines-day-100-dollar-wedding-ring |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2012-02-15 |title=Valve selling a virtual Team Fortress 2 ring for $100 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/valve-selling-a-virtual-team-fortress-2-ring-for-usd100 |access-date=2025-03-01 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}} The item's ability to display text globally has been used to share messages, troll, or protest.

Third-party websites such as the crowd-sourced backpack.tf have been created to aid users in trading, as well as track the value of in-game items.{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Craig |date=May 30, 2012 |title=The $28000 Team Fortress 2 backpack |work=PCGamesN |url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/28000-team-fortress-2-backpack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610232332/http://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/28000-team-fortress-2-backpack |archive-date=June 10, 2012}} Crate keys, crafting-metal, and in-game items such as an Earbuds cosmetic (also referred to as "buds") are all used as currency due to their value.{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Patrick |date=July 2012 |title=A beginner's guide to the Team Fortress 2 economy |url=https://www.destructoid.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-team-fortress-2-economy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719165731/https://www.destructoid.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-team-fortress-2-economy/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=www.destructoid.com}} Keys are a preferred currency as of 2025, with a fixed Steam price of US$2.18 each, though some inflation has nonetheless driven the market value down to around $1.80.Stanton, Rich. [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/team-fortress-2s-just-had-the-single-biggest-trade-in-its-history-with-the-absolute-best-hat-you-can-get-in-the-game-going-for-around-usd40k-in-value/ "Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with 'the absolute best hat you can get' going for around $40K"], PC Gamer, 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

The economy of Team Fortress 2 has received significant attention from economists, journalists, and users due to its relative sophistication and the value of many of its in-game items. It has often been the subject of study.{{Cite web |last=Varoufakis |first=Yanis |date=June 22, 2022 |title=ARBITRAGE AND EQUILIBRIUM IN THE TEAM FORTRESS 2 ECONOMY |url=https://www.gwern.net/docs/economics/2012-varoufakis-teamfortress2arbitrage.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506155400/https://www.gwern.net/docs/economics/2012-varoufakis-teamfortress2arbitrage.html |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=www.gwern.net}}{{Better source needed|date=September 2024}} It operates on a system of supply and demand, barter, and scarcity value, akin to many real-world economies such as that of the United States.{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=June 26, 2012 |title=Buy low, sell high in Team Fortress 2's "peculiarly sophisticated barter economy" |work=www.pcgamer.com |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/buy-low-sell-high-in-team-fortress-2s-peculiarly-sophisticated-barter-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719165731/https://www.pcgamer.com/buy-low-sell-high-in-team-fortress-2s-peculiarly-sophisticated-barter-economy/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021}} In 2011, it was reported that the economy of Team Fortress 2 was worth over US$50 million.{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen |date=December 17, 2011 |title=Analyst Pegs TF2 Hat Economy At $50 Million |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/12/analyst-pegs-tf2-hat-economy-at-50-million/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719165733/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/12/analyst-pegs-tf2-hat-economy-at-50-million/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=Kotaku Australia}}

On July 6, 2018, Valve released a patch that prevents opening crates in Belgium and the Netherlands due to local laws making loot boxes illegal.{{Cite news |date=2018-04-26 |title=Video game loot boxes declared illegal under Belgium gambling laws |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43906306 |access-date=2025-03-02 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Straub |first=Nicholas |date=2020-10-05 |title=Every Country With Laws Against Loot Boxes (& What The Rules Are) |url=https://screenrant.com/lootbox-gambling-microtransactions-illegal-japan-china-belgium-netherlands/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

In what became known as "The Crate Depression" (a pun on "The Great Depression"), a bug contained in the update released on July 25, 2019 caused certain older series of Crates to always produce Unusual-grade cosmetic items, compared to the nominal 1% chance. The flood of the items damaged the in-game economy as the market prices of the Unusual items dropped precipitously in value. The bug was fixed the next day, and Valve prohibited the exchange of Unusual-grade items obtained via the bug. Valve would later decide that the first Unusual-grade item any player received from the bug would be made tradable while any subsequent items were only usable by the player who received them.{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2019 |title=Update on The Crate Depression of 2019 |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=53025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626191740/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=53025 |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=teamfortress.com}} A similar glitch briefly affected killstreak kits by allowing them to be attached to any item, including cosmetics. The glitched items did not have killstreak functionality and the error was resolved after a single night, but the affected items were not reverted and retained full tradability, making them exceptionally valuable due to their rarity.

Cosmetic items can frequently sell for thousands of dollars each, depending on base rarity and additional effects. Notably expensive hats include the "Hat of Undeniable Wealth and Respect", of which only around 750 were created in a community event,Kurutz, Steven. [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/fashion/fire-when-ready-but-spare-my-hat.html "Fire When Ready, but Spare My Hat"], New York Times, 12 June 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2025. and the "Team Captain" hat with a "Burning Flames" unusual effect which has proven a staple of higher-end transactions.[https://www.pcgamesn.com/tf2/28000-team-fortress-2-backpack "The $28000 Team Fortress 2 backpack"], PCGamesN, 30 May 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2025.[https://whatculture.com/gaming/8-ridiculously-expensive-video-game-skins-we-totally-want?page=4 "8 RIDICULOUSLY Expensive Video Game Skins (We Totally Want)"], pp. 4, WhatCulture, 21 May 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2025. A record for the single largest trade in the game's history was set in 2025, appraised at upwards of $43,200 for an instance of the "Crone's Dome" witch hat. The item combined a "Spellbound" unusual effect with a pair of extremely limited "spell" item modifiers and a glitched killstreak kit, greatly inflating its value through both raw rarity and the thematically consistent cosmetic effects.

{{see also|The Orange Box#Reception|l1=Critical reception of The Orange Box}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 92/100

| 1UP = A{{Cite web |last1=Elliot |first1=Shawn |date=October 10, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 PC Review |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/team-fortress-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523225712/http://www.1up.com/reviews/team-fortress-2 |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |work=1UP.com |language=en}}

| EuroG = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Bradwell |first=Tom |date=October 10, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Review |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/team-fortress-2-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218135038/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/team-fortress-2-review |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |work=Eurogamer}}

| GSpot = 8.5/10{{Cite web |last=Watters |first=Chris |date=May 3, 2008 |title=Team Fortress 2 for PC review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/team-fortress-2-launch-review/1900-6190347/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706133149/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/team-fortress-2-launch-review/1900-6190347/ |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |access-date=July 8, 2015 |work=GameSpot}}

| GSpy = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Accardo |first=Sal |date=October 10, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Review |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/team-fortress-2/826482p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515205715/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/team-fortress-2/826482p1.html |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |work=GameSpy}}

| GRadar={{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2007 |title=Team Fortress 2 Review |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/team-fortress-2-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141026/http://www.gamesradar.com/team-fortress-2-review/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2015 |work=GamesRadar}}

| IGN = 8.9/10

| PCGUS = 94%

| rev1 = GameDaily

| rev1Score = 9/10

| award1Pub = Game Critics Awards

| award1 = {{Unbulleted list|Best Action Game (1999)|Best Online Multiplayer (1999)}}

| award2Pub = IGN

| award2 = Best Artistic Design (2007)

| award3Pub = 1UP.com

| award3 = {{Unbulleted list|Best Multiplayer Experience (2007)|Best Artistic Direction (2007)}}

| award4Pub = GameSpy

| award4 = {{Unbulleted list|Best Multiplayer Game of the Year (2007)|Most Unique Art Style (2007)}}

}}

Team Fortress 2 received widespread critical acclaim, with overall scores of 92/100 "universal acclaim" on Metacritic.{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 (PC: 2007): Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/team-fortress-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824081324/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/team-fortress-2/critic-reviews |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |work=Metacritic}} Many reviewers praised the cartoon-styled graphics, and the resulting light-hearted gameplay, and the use of distinct personalities and appearances for the classes impressed a number of critics, with PC Gamer UK stating that "until now multiplayer games just haven't had it". Similarly, the game modes were received well, GamePro described the settings as focusing "on just simple fun",{{Cite magazine |last1=Burt |first1=Andy |date=October 10, 2007 |title=The Orange Box Review |url=http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/139449.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011012505/http://gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/139449.shtml |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |magazine=GamePro |language=en}} while several reviewers praised Valve for the map "Hydro" and its attempts to create a game mode with variety in each map. Additional praise was bestowed on the game's level design, game balance and teamwork promotion.{{Cite web |last1=Gerstmann |first1=Jeff |date=October 11, 2007 |title=The Orange Box Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-orange-box-review/1900-6180730/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022045612/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-orange-box-review/1900-6180730/ |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2007 |work=GameSpot |language=en}} Team Fortress 2 has received several awards individually for its multiplayer gameplay{{Cite web |title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: Team Fortress 2 |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/multiplayer/10.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223104902/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/multiplayer/10.html |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |access-date=December 22, 2007 |work=GameSpy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2007 1UP Network Editorial Awards |url=http://www.1up.com/features/2007-1up-network-editorial-awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715210939/http://www.1up.com/features/2007-1up-network-editorial-awards |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2008 |work=1UP.com |language=en}} and its graphical style,{{Cite web |title=GameSpy Game of the Year 2007: Multiplayer |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/multiplayer/11.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223100502/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/multiplayer/11.html |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |work=GameSpy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: Special Awards |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/special/29.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223095324/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/special/29.html |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |work=GameSpy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=IGN Best of 2007: PC — Best Artistic Design |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/pc/12.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117080859/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/pc/12.html |archive-date=November 17, 2013 |access-date=February 18, 2008 |work=IGN |language=en}} as well as having received a number of "game of the year" awards as part of The Orange Box.{{Cite web |title=11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards.php?winners&year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319003758/http://www.interactive.org/awards.php?winners&year=2008 |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=April 24, 2008 |publisher=AIAS |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2007 |title=Spike TV Announces 2007 'Video Game Awards' Winners |url=http://www.spike.com/press/2007/12/07/spike-tv-announces-2007-video-game-award-winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161213204309/http://www.spike.com/press/2007/12/07/spike-tv-announces-2007-video-game-award-winners/ |archive-date=December 13, 2016 |access-date=July 8, 2015 |work=Spike TV |language=en}}

Although Team Fortress 2 was well received, its removal of class-specific grenades, a feature of previous Team Fortress incarnations, was controversial amongst reviewers. IGN expressed some disappointment over this, while conversely, PC Gamer UK approved, stating "grenades have been removed entirely—thank God". Some further criticism came over a variety of issues, such as the lack of extra content such as bots (although Valve has since added bots in an update{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Mike |date=December 21, 2009 |title=Erectin a dispenser |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3279 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102003806/http://teamfortress.com/post.php?id=3279 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=January 22, 2010 |publisher=Valve}}), problems of players finding their way around maps due to the lack of a minimap, and some criticism of the Medic class being too passive and repetitive in his nature. The Medic class has since been re-tooled by Valve, giving it new unlockable weapons and abilities.

Team Fortress 2 was nominated in the categories of "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction" and "Outstanding Achievement in Animation" at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards;{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGame=928 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details The Orange Box: Team Fortress 2 |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=6 December 2023}} as part of The Orange Box compilation, it was awarded with "Computer Game of the Year" (shared with Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Portal).{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGame=964 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details The Orange Box |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113171252/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGame=964 |url-status=live }}

With the "Gold Rush Update" in April 2008, Valve had started to add fundamentals of character customization through unlockable weapons for each class, which continued in subsequent updates, most notably the "Sniper vs. Spy Update" in April 2009, which introduced unlockable cosmetic items into the game. Further updates expanded the number of weapons and cosmetics available, but also introduced monetization options, eventually allowing it to go free-to-play. To this end, Team Fortress 2 is considered one of the first games to offer games as a service, a feature which would become more prevalent in the 2010s.{{Cite book |last1=Bycer |first1=Joshua |title=20 Essential Games to Study |publisher=CRC Press |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-429-80207-2 |chapter=Chapter 12: Team Fortress 2 (2007; PC and Multiple Platforms): The Birth of Games as a Service}}

After release, the game gained a strong following on YouTube, which proved instrumental in rallying support for combatting the bot crisis. The wide availability of the in-game assets has led to a wide range of Team Fortress fan works across Source Filmmaker, Garry's Mod, and Blender. Such work typically made use of sentence mixing to voice characters, though some would come to include original voice acting as well. The Saxxy Awards featured many Team Fortress-related works, and the community has also received attention for internet phenomena like the "Gmod-infused pisstake" Heavy is Dead.Stanton, Rich. [https://www.pcgamer.com/team-fortress-2-voice-actors-go-for-the-oscars-with-recreation-of-its-most-iconic-fan-skit/ "Team Fortress 2 voice actors go for the Oscars with recreation of its most iconic fan skit"], PCGamer, 27 September 2023. Praise has been directed towards The Winglet, a Source animator on Youtube responsible for the crossover TF2 vs OverwatchMaaz, Wajeeh. [https://www.vice.com/en/article/overwatch-team-fortress-2-youtube-mashup-source-filmmaker-the-winglet/ "Watch ‘Overwatch’ and ‘Team Fortress 2’ Characters Frag Each Other for Video Game Supremacy"], Vice, 25 April 2018. and the action comedy series The Fedora Chronicles, in particular the latter's 20-minute third installment "Live and Let Spy".Grayson, Nathan. [https://kotaku.com/team-fortress-2-fan-film-is-the-best-action-movie-ive-s-1694590501 "Team Fortress 2 Fan Film Is The Best Action Movie I've Seen In Ages"], Kotaku, 30 March 2015.Tach, Dave. [https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/31/8319049/tf2-live-let-spy-fan-film-animated "This enchanting Team Fortress 2 movie took 6 months of work"], Polygon, 31 March 2015. The 2023 fan-film Emesis Blue received acclaim as a feature-length work of mainstream psychological horror.Bumpus, Kayvon. [https://brightlightsfilm.com/mercs-and-mortality-emesis-blue-a-fan-made-team-fortress-2-horror-flick/ "Mercs and Mortality: Emesis Blue, a Fan-Made Team Fortress 2 Horror Flick"], Bright Lights Film Journal, 16 April 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.Garner, Robin. [https://www.the-standard.org/opinion/garner-emesis-blue-is-a-horror-movie-for-tf2-fans/article_b103781a-d413-11ed-b519-bf6aec1ce1d4.html "Emesis Blue is a horror movie for TF2 fans"], The Standard, 5 April 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

Fans of Team Fortress Classic have made a total conversion mod of Team Fortress 2 titled Team Fortress 2 Classic, which seeks to marry gameplay elements and concepts from both entries alongside scrapped ideas from the sequel's development cycle and several entirely original additions.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 2020, some content creators in the Team Fortress 2 community began using 15.ai, an artificial intelligence text-to-speech tool that could replicate the voices of the characters. The technology lead to viral content like Spy Is a Furry, The RED Bread Bank, and remakes of other animations like Heavy is Dead. The tool's ability to generate speech with emotional inflections saw widespread use in TF2 fan content creation.{{cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Website Lets You Make GLaDOS Say Whatever You Want |url=https://kotaku.com/this-website-lets-you-make-glados-say-whatever-you-want-1846062835 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117164748/https://kotaku.com/this-website-lets-you-make-glados-say-whatever-you-want-1846062835 |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=Kotaku |quote=}}{{cite web |last=Morton |first=Lauren |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Put words in game characters' mouths with this fascinating text to speech tool |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2021/01/18/put-words-in-game-characters-mouths-with-this-fascinating-text-to-speech-tool/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118213308/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2021/01/18/put-words-in-game-characters-mouths-with-this-fascinating-text-to-speech-tool/ |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |quote=}}{{cite web |last=Clayton |first=Natalie |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Make the cast of TF2 recite old memes with this AI text-to-speech tool |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/make-the-cast-of-tf2-recite-old-memes-with-this-ai-text-to-speech-tool |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119133726/https://www.pcgamer.com/make-the-cast-of-tf2-recite-old-memes-with-this-ai-text-to-speech-tool/ |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=PC Gamer |quote=}}{{cite magazine |last=Ruppert |first=Liana |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Make Portal's GLaDOS And Other Beloved Characters Say The Weirdest Things With This App |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2021/01/18/make-portals-glados-and-other-beloved-characters-say-the-weirdest-things |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118175543/https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2021/01/18/make-portals-glados-and-other-beloved-characters-say-the-weirdest-things |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |magazine=Game Informer |quote=}}

{{Clear}}

• 2Fort
• The Orange Box

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite report |last1=Baumer |first1=Matt |last2=Kephart |first2=Curtis |title=Aggregate dynamics in a large virtual economy: Prices and real activity in Team Fortress 2 |id={{hdl|10419/125549}} |publisher=University of California, Economics Department |location=Santa Cruz |type=Working Paper |year=2015 |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Giovannini |first1=S. |editor1-last=Papale |editor1-first=Luca |editor2-last=Toniolo |editor2-first=Francesco |title=Valve Corporation: videogiochi, visioni e virtuosismi di un'azienda rivoluzionaria |year=2021 |publisher=Biblion |location=Milano |isbn=978-88-3383-164-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbavzgEACAAJ |oclc=1286627044 |pages=88–96 |chapter=La clonazione dei videogiochi stranieri nella Repubblica Popolare Cinese. Il caso di Team Fortress 2 e Final Combat |hdl=10807/186827 |language=it}}
• {{Cite conference |last1=Lim |first1=Chong-U |last2=Harrell |first2=D. Fox |title=Modeling player preferences in avatar customization using social network data: A case-study using virtual items in Team Fortress 2 |conference=2013 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence in Games (CIG) |isbn=978-1-4673-5311-3 |date=11-13 August 2013 |location=Niagara Falls, ON |pages=1–8 |doi=10.1109/CIG.2013.6633636 |publisher=IEEE |issn=2325-4289 |language=en}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=Christopher |title=Hats of affect: a study of affect, achievements and hats in Team Fortress 2 |journal=Game Studies |date=February 2011 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=1–14 |url=https://gamestudies.org/1101/articles/moore |access-date=3 August 2023 |location=Copenhagen |hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30041568 |issn=1604-7982 |language=en}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://www.teamfortress.com/}}
• [https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Main_Page Official Wiki]

{{Valve}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Team Fortress

Category:2007 video games

Category:Fictional nonets

Category:First-person shooter multiplayer online games

Category:First-person shooters

Category:Free-to-play video games

Category:Hero shooters

Category:Linux games

Category:MacOS games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Multiplayer online games

Category:PlayStation 3 games

Category:Source (game engine) games

Category:Valve Corporation games

Category:Video game sequels

Category:Video games about robots

Category:Video games adapted into comics

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games scored by Mike Morasky

Category:Video games set in New Mexico

Category:Video games set in the 1960s

Category:Video games set in the 1970s

Category:Video games using Havok

Category:Video games with commentaries

Category:Video games with Steam Workshop support

Category:Virtual reality games

Category:Windows games

Category:Xbox 360 games