TF2 Coaching Central is announcing the eighth iteration of their North American Newbie 6s Cup, a learning experience and friendly competition for people who are new to competitive 6v6.

Players with no to minimal competitive experience will sign up to be placed on a team of six, led by coaches who will teach the basics of how to play the 6v6 format and help you learn the maps. Teams have three weeks to learn and train together before facing off in a tournament with a prize pool of 18 keys for the winners and runners up. TF2 Coaching Central's previous Newbie Cup events have successfully prepared many players and teams to continue competitive play in RGL, the biggest North American TF2 league.

Sign-ups are open now, and the deadline to apply to be placed on a team is August 8. Team and coach assignments will be made by August 10 and tournament matches, broadcasted by Fireside Casts, will be the weekend of August 31-September 1.

Check out the Discord for more info. Whether you're looking to dip your toes in competitive TF2, a more experienced player looking to mentor newbies, or even a fresh install, feel free to join the community - all skill levels are welcome!

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

• Updated Taunt: Can It! to fix missing flies particle effect
• Updated the backpack image for the Impact Impaler
• Updated Violent Viridian Unusual effect to fix a visual bug
• Updated/Added some tournament medals
• Updated cp_hadal
  • Fixed control point capture messages
  • Fixed door locking in RED spawn after C capture
  • Removed unintended buildable areas
  • Increased capture time on final point
  • Improved directions around the map
• Updated pl_embargo
  • Reduced respawn time on Last for RED from 34 to 22 seconds
  • Asked Botlers to speak and explode more quietly
  • Minor visual fixes
• Updated koth_megaton
  • Improved performance by up to 20%, with more significant improvements possible depending on system specs (Thanks ficool2!)
  • Fixed the grates around the capture zone allowing blast damage to pass through
  • Fixed a few cases of alpha painted displacement seams
  • Improved lighting on several models, especially on the rocks throughout the map
  • Fixed surfaceprop on BLU's metal plates
  • Fixed several pixelwalks along thatch roofing and exteriors of the team buildings
  • Improved clipping throughout
  • Fixed a support beam intersecting with spawn doors
  • Fixed a few instances of visible displacement holes in the perimeter dropoff
  • Added a unique kill icon for the end of the round
  • Fixed floating spawndoor motors
  • Plus... all you need for a beach party!
• Updated pd_atom_smash
  • Fixed the Casual Administrator overriding the Scientist
  • Fixed some floating lights
• Updated koth_sawmill_event
  • Removed the spells in the underworld since players could spawn camp with them too easily
  • Increased the time players get crits and health from the underworld after leaving
  • Added some additional effects to the secret exit from the underworld

(Image credit: PootisGod)

Attention! Attention! PASS Time Federation is looking for new sign-ups!

Calling back to their roots, PASS Time Federation is doing a 2-3 Day Cup for players in the EU region! Looking to speed things up and add a bit of spice to PASS Time, they're looking for 16 teams of 7 capable mercs (and 2 body doubles) for a 2-3 day event of back-to-back play.

The teams will take on the cramped corners of District, the large openings of Timbertown, the frozen cargo waste of Snowylake and the new and improved Proyard to take things to the next level!

Sign-ups started on July 28 and will be open for 2 weeks! They will be closed once all 16 capable teams are found. Teams will be split up and fight in a Double Elimination Challenge bracket! Winners (and the others in second and third) will take home special PASS Time Federation medals and whatever arrives in the prize pool over the course of the event!

What are you waiting for? Sign-ups are open now!

Important Links:

• Discord
• Steam Group

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

• Updated pl_embargo to fix visual glitches

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

• Updated the Loyalist's Coronet Unusual effect to fix team BLU particles in the team RED effect
• Updated the Rainbow Reverie, Warp Drive and Overdrive Unusual effects to work better with larger hats
• Updated the Rainbow Reverie Unusual effect to add a fade in when spawning and make the refract more noticeable
• Updated the Dragonflies' Embrace, Dragonflies' Nature, and Dragonflies' Lucent Unusual effects to fix trailing issues on the grass and ground particles
• Updated the Distress Signal and Carioca's Call Unusual effects to fix some issues with overlapping sprites
• Updated the Desert Wind and Monsoon Season Unusual effects
  • Fixed the wind flickering on moving taunts
  • Fixed the tumbleweed having incorrect physics
  • Updated the wind and dust to trail slightly on moving taunts
• Updated the Control Patrol cosmetic item
  • Reduced the size of the glasses
  • Lowered the hat slightly on Soldier's head
  • Fixed UV map issue with LODs
• Updated the Justice Johns cosmetic item
  • Slimmed down the legs and raised socks cuffs to reduce overall thickness of the legs
  • Fixed rigging issue with boot laces
• Updated the Pathfinder cosmetic item
  • Slimmed down the arms slightly
  • Adjusted shoulder and armpit rigging to reduce stretching of the vest
  • Adjusted mesh transition from forearms to hands
  • Fixed some clipping issues around where the shirt collar meets the zipper
  • Raised the zipper pull tab for better compatibility with other Soldier cosmetics
• Updated ctf_doublecross
  • Fixed an incorrect team-colored material in the BLU base for real this time
• Updated pl_enclosure_final
  • Fixed a clip wall blocking a dropdown in stage 3
• Updated pl_embargo
  • Minor visual and clipping improvements
  • Fixed the cart's missing outline
  • Added an extra Botler to the playable space
  • Fixed the paint splat overlay not applying to players within the explosion range
  • The ambient music inside the casino now respects the music volume settings
  • Improved player visibility against certain walls (Thanks Arthur)
  • Added the kill icon to the helicopter blades
  • Fixed an override of a TF2's base texture
  • Fixed being able to block the cart shortly after point A (Thanks Aar)
  • Fixed getting stuck in a door near C while it closes
  • Fixed indoors fog sometimes getting applied outside (Thanks Phe)
  • Increased respawn time for RED on the last point
  • Fixed the client crash related to custom models
  • Improved performance on the last point
• Updated koth_cachoeira
  • Engineers can no longer build inside the cliffs
  • Fixed teleporter stuck spot under the control point
  • Adjusted respawn waves
  • Minor visual improvements
  • Various clipping fixes
  • Improved performance
• Updated ctf_applejack
  • Improved clipping
  • Brought some stairs
  • Improved tree collision
  • Added more chickens
  • Improved detail
  • Fixed Ol'Betsy (Thanks Aar!)

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

• Moved 64-bit Steam binaries to the correct folder
• Updated the equip_region for the Free Mann's Fashion
• Updated the Distant Drift Unusual effect to fix a visibility issue
• Updated the Butterfly Season Unusual effect to fix problems with the scale and effect trails
• Updated the Fiesta Royale and Grand Jubilee Unusual taunt effects with performance improvements
• Updated the Botler 2000 to fix problems with its positioning
• Updated koth_megaton
  • Fixed the finale being cut off by a round ending too early
  • Fixed players not being blown to smithereens during the finale
  • Fixed players being able to get stuck in the edges of the thatch rooftops
  • Improved optimization. Investigation into further improvements for lower-end and config users is ongoing.
• Updated cp_canaveral_5cp
  • Fixed an out-of-bounds exploit
  • Fixed some stuck spots
  • Fixed some hovering props
  • Added some missing overlays
• Updated cp_overgrown
  • Fixed being able to build in RED spawn
  • Adjusted clipping to fix a few perch points
  • Removed extra shadow_control entity (Thanks Lacry!)
  • Fixed a number of small visual and gameplay issues on the map (Thanks Midnite!)
• Updated pl_odyssey
  • Fixed an exploit that allowed BLU players to enter RED spawn
  • Fixed lighting issues in BLU first spawn

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

• Fixed the Distress Signal and Carioca's Call Unusual effects sometimes causing the game to crash
• Moved ctf_haarp out of the CTF matchmaking category and into Attack/Defend
• Updated the Treasure Trove Unusual taunt effect
  • Renamed to Bountiful Riches to fix a naming conflict
  • Updated the materials to fix a problem with the coins
• Updated pd_atom_smash
  • Fixed missing UI elements for the capture zone
  • Increased rarity of The Scientist's idle chatter between capture zone availability
• Updated koth_megaton
  • Fixed a missing material on the sandbags
  • Fixed clipping on an open crate

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:

Summer 2024!

• Featuring 10 new community maps: Embargo, Odyssey, Megaton, Cachoeira, Overgrown, Hadal, Applejack, Atom Smash, Canaveral, and Burghausen
• Added the Summer 2024 Cosmetic Case
  • Contains 23 new community-contributed items
• Added 4 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. Store
  • Taunt: Can It!
  • Taunt: Cremator's Condolences
  • Taunt: Straight Shooter Tutor
  • Taunt: Unleashed Rage
• Added 38 new community-created Unusual effects
  • 18 new effects for Unusual hats
  • 20 new effects for Unusual taunts
• All cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Summer 2024 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the Summer event. This does not include crates.
• The Summer event runs through September 15th, 2024

General

• Security and stability improvements
• Fixed Workshop sv_cheats exploit
• Disallow aliasing any existing convars that are not movement commands
• Added language support for Spanish - Latin America
• Added ConVar "tf_hide_custom_decals" to allow clients to disable viewing custom decals on items
  • Added "Hide Custom Decals" checkbox to the Advanced Options dialog in the Miscellaneous Options category
• Added missing 64-bit Steam binaries for the dedicated server
• Added missing 64-bit versions of HLMV and HLFaceposer
• Added a check to prevent the "autoteam" client command for custom game modes like VSH after the player has already joined a team
• Added missing menu_photos images for cp_powerhouse
• Added missing default string for Player Destruction mode
• Expanded VScript support
  • Added mp_tournament_redteamname, mp_tournament_blueteamname, and tf_mvm_max_connected_players to the list of whitelisted ConVars
  • Fixed vscript_convar_allowlist.cfg being overriden by being packed into a map
  • BaseEntity: AcceptInput, IsAlive
  • EconEntity: GetAttribute
  • TFPlayer: GetCustomAttribute, StunPlayer
  • TFBot: GetAllBotTags, SetMission, SetPrevMission, GetMission, GetPrevMission, HasMission, IsOnAnyMission, SetMissionTarget, GetMissionTarget, SetBehaviorFlag, ClearBehaviorFlag, IsBehaviorFlagSet, SetActionPoint, GetActionPoint
• Moved some of the Christmas maps to the normal rotation
• Moved ctf_2fort_invasion out of the Misc matchmaking category and into CTF
• Moved koth_probed out of the Misc matchmaking category and into KOTH
• Fixed Incinerator killstreak effect not scaling properly when viewed from a distance (community fix from SirDapper and CheesyPuff)
• Fixed Gunslinger punch combo not being lag compensated (community fix from Marxvee)
• Fixed third-person reload animation speeds not matching first-person speeds when using custom attributes (community fix from Marxvee)
• Fixed CTF HUD being visible when no flags are present (Community fix from fellen)
• Fixed broken LOD1 model for The B.A.S.E. Jumper backpack while deployed (community fix from Piogre)
• Fixed cosmetic items that use per-class bodygroups not using the correct bodygroup in the Loadout panel
• Fixed dropped weapons with custom decals not showing the correct decals
• Fixed some unusual effects using the wrong orientation for The Head Hedge
• Fixed Halloween transmutations being completed outside of the Halloween event
• Fixed incorrect BLU material for the CLTF2 bronze medal
• Fixed missing Spy audio when using the Taunt: Kazotsky Kick
• Fixed missing sound for the Taunt: The Skating Scorcher
• Fixed the Neon Annihilator not getting crit-attacks when hitting players covered with gas
• Fixed some clipping issues for the Mad Lad when using lod1 and lod2
• Fixed missing polygons for the Stunt Suit when using the Roadworker style
• Fixed seeing the wrong image in the Steam inventory for the Operation Firmware Frenzy Star of the Company 2023 medal
• Fixed not being able to equip the Master's Yellow Belt and the Hillbilly Speed Bump at the same time
• Fixed console warning about unknown command 'eureka_teleport'
• Fixed Vaccinator heal sound continuing to play after Medic's death
• Fixed a problem with the Tiny Timber not displaying paint after being painted
• Updated zi_intro.webm media file
• Updated the description of the Buffalo Steak Sandvich to display the increased damage vulnerability while active
• Updated the Eldritch Horror and Deep-sea Devourer Unusual taunt effects to fix incorrect spawn locations
• Updated the materials for Your Eternal Reward to fix incorrect lighting under certain conditions (community fix from Lindon)
• Updated the material for The Buff Banner to add phong mask and missing material parameters (community fix from Lindon)
• Updated the material for The Law to fix an issue when the hat has been painted
• Updated the equip_region for the Cleaner's Cap
• Updated/Added some tournament medals
• Updated ctf_turbine_winter, plr_hacksaw, and pl_phoenix to fix localization issues
• Updated ctf_doublecross
  • Fixed an incorrect team-colored material in the BLU base
• Updated cp_brew
  • Fixed truck textures outside of BLU spawn
  • Fixed a few bumps in the road
• Updated pd_selbyen
  • Fixed an exploit that would allow Engineer to trap players using a teleporter behind a door
  • Minor detailing changes
• Updated pl_hoodoo_final
  • Added func_noclip to BLU spawn in the third stage
• Updated pl_corruption
  • Fixed handrail collision near the last point
  • Fixed lamp near BLU spawn
  • Fixed missing string for last point
• Updated plr_hacksaw_event
  • Fixed broken areaportals
• Updated pl_enclosure_final
  • [Stage 1] - Moved A point within the gate building
  • [Stage 1] - Added stairs for access to the balcony overlooking the final point area
  • [Stage 1] - Added more cover along the initial aviary area
  • [Stage 1] - Removed the catwalk connecting the wooden tower with the oneway door and the balcony area
  • [Stage 1] - Tweaked the layout of the tunnel section
  • [Stage 1] - Wooden tower is now connected to a new catwalk inside of the gate building
  • [Stage 1] - Reworked RED spawn so it now has two exit doors
  • [Stage 2] - RED now has a 2nd spawn exit leading outside along the water to where the airboats are parked
  • [Stage 2] - Airboats and their dock are now accessible
  • [Stage 2] - Removed the elevated platform RED had within the building, replaced with a tall piece of cover instead
  • [Stage 3] - Added a wall and extra stairs on the right side leading up to the catwalk around the raptor pit
  • [Stage 3] - Added a large cliff narrowing the whole area on the left side of the raptor pit
  • [Stage 3] - Added an extra entryway on the left side of the final point building and a dropdown to floor level within
  • [Stage 3] - Added a jumping class vent from next to B point area into the upstairs area of the final point building
  • [All Stages] - Allowed building inside initial BLU spawns
  • [All Stages] - Visual improvements to a lot of places, a few new assets
• Updated pl_cashworks
  • Area 1 / Loading Dock
    • BLU Spawn 1:
      • Solved several clipping issues at doors and stairs
      • Mitigated line of sight into spawn room
      • Added alternative exit from spawn room to the right
    • RED Spawn 1:
      • Reworked to have two exits
    • Area Changes:
      • Changed terrain around bridge to be easier to maneuver and to prevent getting stuck
      • Changed munition pack at building 01 to large
      • Possible spots beneath bridge for teleporter-traps eliminated
      • Shuffled some big rocks to block off Sniper lanes
      • Cut center building Sniper lane, left alley visually blocked off from dock area
      • Cut center building top Sniper lane, less easy to get a good view
      • Changed out of bounds building left of BLU spawn, added spinning sawblade
      • Opened up a third passage to allow for an additional flanking option for BLU and RED
  • Area 2 / Serpentines
    • RED Spawn 2:
      • Reworked 2nd RED spawn entirely
      • New spawn has two exits, locks and teleports after B is capped
    • Area Changes:
      • Balconies blocked off visually and physically
      • Additional visual blocker at the top of the serpentines to allow for a more secure crossing
      • Long tunnel leading through the RED building to a staircase at the foot of the hill
      • Added deadly and moving sawblade for spicy danger, with sparks and fumes
      • Closed off BLU balcony at the end of the hill
      • Changed raised platform to be only accessible from RED side
    • Reroutes:
      • Deleted BLU gates at flanking route after B is capped
      • Flanking route has an additional exit towards C, leading through BLU building
      • BLU building interiors reworked and expanded
      • Balcony-drop doesn't injure the player any more
  • Area 3 / Construction Site
    • BLU Spawn 2:
      • New stairway leading to balcony
      • Wider exit from big building after CP3 capture
    • Area Changes:
      • Widened area at the generators and on the 2nd level
      • Changed the direction of the drop-in to C, leading into the hydroelectric building
      • Widened exit from BLU spawn into Area 3
  • Area 4 / Vault
    • Area Changes:
      • Added gates opening at the gatehouse after CP3 is captured
      • Alternative passageway through gatehouse while gates are closed pre CP3
      • Rebuild bridge to be convex, obscuring a long Sniper lane
      • Wonky bridge rewards with a branching access next to the vault building, allowing for BLU flanks
  • Global Changes
    • Solved a ton of clipping
    • Rebuilt and edited navmesh, with defined sentry and Sniper positions and varying gameplay
    • Adjusted func_doors at spawn to span to every solid
    • Changed clipping on cart, now jumpable
    • Increased fog distance and lowered density
    • Exchanged glass-textures from the green to the clear version
    • Stairs and hanging bridge are now bullet-blocked for more predictable projectile bounces

(Image credit: mustanahaline_veerandselg)

On July 20th-21st, the top four teams in RGL.gg will be flying out to Philadelphia, PA, for the Season 15 LAN Playoffs and a chance to prove who is the best team in North America!

Come watch in person or catch all of the action live on the RGL.gg Twitch Stream! Here are the match schedules for both days:

Schedule - Day 1 (Saturday, July 20th)
1:00 pm Eastern – Round 1 Match
5:00 pm Eastern - Semi-finals

Schedule - Day 2 (Sunday, July 21st)
12:30 pm Eastern - Lower Bracket Finals
4:00 pm Eastern - GRAND FINAL

BOOM! CRASH! Did you hear that? That’s the sound of robots breaking through the gates and destroying everything in their path! Alright not really, we just blew a bunch of stuff up to get your attention. Now that your ears are ringing, listen up as best as you can! Gray Mann is back to his usual shenanigans, and we need YOUR help destroying those robots. What’s that? You still can’t hear me? Well don’t worry, just grab your weapons and follow the big sign that says, "ROBOTS THIS WAY", you’ll know what to do from there.

Operation Osmium Ordinance is a new Mann vs. Machine charity event brought to you by Potato MvM featuring over a dozen missions across new and returning maps! Complete at least 6 missions to earn an in-game medal! Event servers are available worldwide in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Click here to get started!

Feeling generous? Potato.TF is also hosting a charity fundraiser supporting the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Donate as little as $5 to receive an in-game medal! Have the link to your Steam profile ready and click here for more information.

Destroy those robots while you can! The event will run through July 25th, 2024.

Important Links:

• Event Website
• Discord
• Steam Group