Surprise! Valve has unleashed a massive update to the Source SDK, generously including the complete Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. This opens the door for players to craft entirely new games from the ground up. Unlike previous limitations of Steam Workshop or local mods, this update grants modders unprecedented freedom to modify, expand, and even completely rewrite Team Fortress 2 in any conceivable way.

While commercialization is off the table – meaning any resulting mods or spin-off games must be freely distributed on a non-commercial basis – creations can still be published on the Steam Store, appearing as distinct entries within the Steam game library.

Valve's reasoning, as explained in a recent blog post, centers on respecting the significant community investment in TF2 inventories and the vast amount of content generated by Steam Workshop contributors. The company emphasizes the community's crucial role in the game's current state, urging mod creators to reciprocate this respect by avoiding mods designed to profit from the efforts of Workshop contributors. Ideally, many mods would continue to allow players access to their existing TF2 inventories, where feasible.

This expansive update isn't limited to Team Fortress 2. Valve is also rolling out a significant update across its entire back-catalog of multiplayer Source engine titles. Key improvements include 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and numerous other enhancements benefiting Team Fortress 2, DoD:S, HL2:DM, CS:S, and HLDM:S.

Following seven years of anticipation, December saw the release of the seventh and final chapter of the Team Fortress 2 comic series. These comics have served not only as a rich source of lore and character development for fans, but also as a testament to Valve's enduring commitment to one of its most enduring franchises.