Aug 14

Team Fortress 2 - Valve

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:

Added 'No Bullets' styles for the Tsar Platinum, Siberian Sweater, Heavy Metal, and Bigger Mann on Campus
Updated the Tsar Platinum to fix some clipping issues when using the 'No Bullets' style
Updated/Added some tournament medals
Updated pl_citadel
- Further adjustments to payload collision
- Adjusted cover near first checkpoint gate
- Made drawbridge less prone to crushing players while opening
- Fixed some projectiles colliding with the bounding box of func_brush entities
- Fixed an exploit that allowed buildings to be placed under terrain
- Fixed an exploit that allowed BLU players to enter RED spawn
- Improved navmesh (community fix from Koi)
- Visual fixes and adjustments
- Clipping adjustments
Updated cp_gravelpit_snowy
- Enabled radial fog
- Repositioned weather particles
- Adjusted holiday events
- Fixed displacement seams
- Fixed footstep sounds on clipping brushes
Updated pl_aquarius
- Fixed underwater speed boost conflicting with several item effects
- Fixed some cases where players could get stuck in payload lifts
- Fixed case where Megalodon could eat the payload without final being capped (Thanks Chaos!)
- Adjusted layout of catwalk area over A to improve flow and navigation
- Full ammo on B reduced to medium
- Slightly raised rubber catwalk over C lift
- Blocked dead end cubby near point C
- D shortcut platform given short barrier and easier pipe jump

Aug 1

Team Fortress 2 Update Released

Team Fortress 2 - Valve

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:

Added 'No Bullets' styles for the Brute's Braces and the Hunter Heavy to support the new 'bullets' bodygroup
Updated cp_fulgur
- Added an extra dropdown path between B and C
- Fixed particle manifest naming
Updated cp_fortezza
- Managed sniper sightlines on last
- Added new cover object to first point
- Improved clipping in areas
Updated koth_demolition
- Fixed a prop on the RED helipad building being inside a wall
- Fixed two props missing particle effect on the helipad buildings
- Fixed a small bug with the shortcuts where sometimes they stayed closed after players exited them even when other players were on the trigger
- Fixed nav mesh (thanks Katsu for editing it)
- Added missing spectator cameras around the map
- Added the "evil deer" on the boat hanging above the sea, do not touch it
- Raised the water kill trigger slightly
- Changed the type of the water kill trigger from drown to fall so it displays the message " fell to a clumsy and painful death"
- Reduced the damage of the water kill trigger from 9999 to 2000 to avoid issues with physic objects

Notes missed from the previous update:

Fixed the Taunt: Bear Hug not always playing the correct animations

Jul 30

Steam Trailer Player Upgrades

Steam News - Alden

We've made a number of updates to the Steam Trailer Player to improve usability, quality, and bandwidth usage. Read on for the highlights from this update.

Fresh new user interface

A refreshed trailer player interface that is easier to use and more responsive to your input.

Adaptable UI

The user interface of the trailer player now adapts intelligently no matter how you are using it: on a desktop computer, a mobile device (it even works well on iPhones now); and on Steam Deck or in Steam Big Picture Mode.

Preview images while seeking

As you mouse over or scrub your finger over the player timeline, you'll now see preview images of where you are about to jump to in the video.

Faster seeking, scrubbing, and transition to full-screen

Thanks to a change in the underlying video technology, you should see fewer pauses and hitches when jumping forward or backward in a video. You will also see seamless transitions when pressing that full-screen button.

Smarter use of your internet bandwidth

When we reprocessed each video to work with our new trailer player, we also generated up to four sizes (360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p), which our trailer player dynamically switches between depending on your network conditions and the size of the trailer player.

Improved handling of aspect ratio

The new trailer player now handles any aspect ratio of video, properly scaling, centering, and letterboxing as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many trailers are there in the Steam store?

A. As it turns out.... a LOT. In order to update the streaming technology, we had to re-encode every trailer that appears or could appear on the Steam store. That ended up being around 400,000 video files.

Q. Why are some older videos so low resolution?

A. Some trailers were uploaded a long time ago and we no longer have the original files within the Steam system. Yes, we're still trying to find our stash of tape backups so we can get the originals of the Portal trailer...

Jul 30

Team Fortress 2 Update Released

Team Fortress 2 - Valve

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:

Added missing Engineer audio for the Taunt: The Final Score
Fixed an issue with props and team colors when taunting with Australium weapons
Updated the Le Morne Uniforme to fix some clipping problems
Updated the Kapitan's Kaftan to hide the Heavy's bullets
Updated the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects to fix a refraction bug
Updated the Esprit De Corps to improve the rigging
Updated the Blindin' Bonnett and Shady Shelby to adjust their team colors
Updated/Added some tournament medals
Updated the Fat Friar
- Improved rig
- Adjusted mesh to compensate for lack of bullets bodygroup
- Removed misplaced ambient occlusion and light generators from the texture
- Removed normal map artifacts
- Updated backpack icon to represent above changes
Updated pl_citadel
- Adjusted payload collision
- Reduced radius of payload spawn exit explosion
- Updated various decorative particles to not render on low graphics settings
Updated pl_odyssey
- Added 60 seconds to the round timer when the final control point is activated
- Fixed some projectiles colliding with the bounding box of func_brush entities
- Visual fixes and adjustments
Updated koth_blowout
- Added Experimental Cage around the maps central Blowout Preventer
  - This change aims to make the cover around the point feel more consistent and prevents players from shooting through small gaps or from behind unfair cover
- Improved Optimization
- Fixed kill trigger delay in finale sequence
- Fixed some Unintended Sightlines
- Improved Detailing and Visual Clarity in some areas
Updated koth_boardwalk
- Fixed being able to smuggle enemy Spies into spawn
- Reduced ambient soundscape music
- Added new voice lines for the Barker
- Fixed a visible hall-of-mirrors error in the water by the Sawmill of Love
- Fixed visible nodraw under the shoreline boardwalk
Updated cp_cargo
- Added bullet block to prevent Red from being able to shoot into blue spawn
- Added bullet block to the last point wires
- Fixed the setupgoal text
- Extended the fence next to red spawn slightly
Updated cp_fortezza
- Added more cover to Last
- Added defensive hold for Engineer's holding valley between A and B
- Rebalanced pickups in some areas
- Lighting improvements
- Reduced file size of the map
Updated koth_demolition
- Replaced pillars under the crane using the red texture with ones using the yellow texture
- Fixed the HDR so lights aren't super bright
- Replaced the helicopters with ones not using the Yeti Park logo
- Replaced the Coaltown frames with new ones using newspapers talking about story of the oilrig
- Added a decal showing the oilrig name (Fort Water Rig No. 2) next to the spawns
- Updated the luxel scale in multiple places of the map
- Replaced old blockbullets with new blockbullets for better footsteps sfx
- Replaced the health and ammo pack stands with new ones, metal for outdoors and wooden for indoors
- Added a mini ammo on the furnace rooms
- Added new clipping on top of the furnace rooms to avoid demos and soldiers spamming the point from far away
- Improved the clipping on the spawn platforms to not allow stickies to stick mid air
- Added a wooden sign pointing to the shortcut and long path
- Added new signs that toggle depending on the state of the shortcut to help players navigate the map
- Reworked the art pass inside the helipad platform
- Added a new catwalk behind the furnace buildings to give players more routes on the map
- Adjusted the stairs inside the office building
- Clipped the open window inside the office building so demos can lob pipes through it
- Moved a prop on BLU spawn to prevent it from clipping inside a floor light
- Changed the lights on the shortcuts to be more vibrant and have better illumination and fading

Jul 25

Team Fortress 2 Update Released

Team Fortress 2 - Valve

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 Wrangler shield not moving with parented Sentry Gun (GitHub fix from ficool2)
Fixed missing sounds for Taunt: The Final Score
Fixed sound effect being clipped for the Taunt: Bear Hug
Reduced the taunt attack range for the Taunt: Texan Trickshot
Updated the Esprit De Corps to fix a clipping issue on the shoulder
Updated the Short Fuse to fix an issue with the normal map
Updated the in-game item importer to support the new 'bullets' bodygroup
Updated the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects to fix problems with DirectX80
Updated the Iconic Outline and Subtle Silhouette Unusual effects
- Added path to fallback material for refract texture to prevent rendering issues for dx80 users
- Lowered depth bias value of refraction to mitigate rendering issues on taunts that do not move their default control point with the model
Updated pl_aquarius
- Fixed skybox
- Updated soundscapes
Updated cp_conifer
- Fixed missing poster texture
- Fixed outdated loading screen pictures
Updated cp_fulgur
- Fixed clipping in the exterior area
- Replaced one of the outdated spytech assets with newer version
Updated pl_citadel
- VScript stability improvements

Jul 25

Redesigned Store Menu now in Beta

Steam News - Emilyk

Just as the Steam Store has changed with the addition of new features in past few years, the ways users browse the store have changed too. Today's Steam Client Beta features a new store menu that is designed to provide easier access to the places Steam users most frequently visit.

As part of our ongoing efforts to help users find new and exciting games to play on Steam, we're eager for you to try out the new menu and to read your feedback. To help test the menu and other in-progress Steam features, join the Steam Client Beta.

Here are some of the changes you’ll find:

Combined Left Column & Blue Bar

We’ve combined the left column of links and blue menu bar into one cohesive menu, bringing all your essential links into a more unified and reorganized space. Many of these items were in both places, and it was hard to anticipate where to find what you needed.

Plus, search and the menu are now available on more pages across the Store. While the menu bar will stay out of your way, it will reappear if you scroll up slightly.

Enhanced Search Panel

We’ve taken search to the next level. Not only can you search for what you need, but the search panel now offers even more options, including:

Popular Searches: See what others are searching for right now
Recently Viewed: An easy way to jump back to games you've previously looked at
More than just games: Search for categories/tags, publishers, and more
Advanced Search link: For those who want to refine their game search even further, we’ve made it easier than ever to access the advanced search page with a variety of filters.

Browse - Easier Access to Top Destinations

Not looking for anything specific? We all enjoy seeing what's new on the front of the Store, but sometimes we want a more narrow set of games to browse. The Browse tab offers a variety of ways to find games based on popularity, release date, price and discount. These are the tried and true ways to find the games the community is talking about.

Recommendations - All in One Place

We’ve organized recommendations into one convenient section, so you can explore new games and content without having to sift through multiple areas. Whether you’re looking for games based on your playtime, what you've purchased, or recommendations from people you trust — you can find them now grouped together in one spot.

Categories & Tags - Personalized for You

The categories tab is now fully personalized for you, making it easier than ever to find games based on aspects of the games you play. Featured here are hubs (with access to thousands more games) for your top genres and tags across the games you play. You might even learn something new about yourself!

And more!

With these changes, we’re aiming to make your experience smoother and more tailored to your needs. We've been hearing from players, and experiencing ourselves, that some of the most commonly visited areas of Steam were hard to get to. So whether you’re a frequent shopper or a looking to build your game library, this new layout is designed to get you where you want to go with less effort.

About the beta

We're constantly looking to make Steam better, and we make decisions based on data and the feedback we receive. Even here in the office, we browse the Steam Store in different ways. So it's important that you tell us what you think. The Steam Client Beta is a great way to test features that are in-progress and provide impactful feedback.

Not participating in the Steam Client Beta? Here's how to join. Try out the new menu and let us know what you think.

Jul 24

Team Fortress 2 Update Released

Team Fortress 2 - Valve

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 2025!

Featuring 10 new community maps: Citadel, Aquarius, Fulgur, Cargo, Conifer, Boardwalk, Blowout, Mannhole, Demolition, and Pressure
Added the Summer 2025 Cosmetic Case
- Contains 23 new community-contributed items
Added 4 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. Store
- Taunt: The Final Score
- Taunt: Bear Hug
- Taunt: Texan Trickshot
- Taunt: Flying Colors
Added 14 new community-created Unusual effects
- 7 new effects for Unusual hats
- 7 new effects for Unusual taunts
All cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Summer 2025 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the Summer event. This does not include crates.
The Summer event runs through September 15th, 2025

General

Fixed the Frontline Field Recorder not using its normal map
Fixed The Texas Half-Pants not fully using rimlight
Fixed the Das Hazmattenhatten's materials not using its normal map
Fixed The Bazaar Bargain's scope being painted when using the Saccharine Striped, Team Detail, Gobi Glazed, and Team Charged war paints
Fixed some outdated in-game tips
Reduced default value for ConVar 'tf_mm_next_map_vote_time' from 30s to 15s
Updated materials for The Candy Cane to fix consistency issues
Updated lightwarptexture setting for the blood version of the Half-Zatoichi
Updated the Strasbourg Scholar to improve clipping
Updated the Heavy's model to add a 'bullets' bodygroup for cosmetics
Updated/Added some tournament medals
Updated cp_fortezza
- Reworked routes between Point A and Last
- Improved lighting and visuals across the map
- Clipping fixes
Updated vsh_distillery, vsh_maul, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrock
- Big thanks to Whurr, Starfall and Bradasparky for reporting bugs and suggesting changes.
- Balance changes
  - Consecutive Wall Climbs no longer cut your preexisting speed
  - Mini-Sentries now deal 80% damage (up from 50%)
  - Crit-boosted Miniguns now deal 70% damage (up from 60%)
  - Reduced the Mighty Slam's damage at point-blank range
  - Rebalanced Hale's damage against buildings
    - Level 1 buildings are destroyed with a single punch
    - Level 2 and 3 buildings now require two punches
    - The Wrangler Shield adds an additional punch to the required count
    - Ability-based damage to buildings is unchanged
- Bugfixes
  - Fixed a crash caused by the string pool overflowing over time
  - Fixed Hale's attacks applying knockback in the wrong direction
  - Fixed dead players being flagged as AFK and kicked for idling during long rounds
  - Fixed the round timer resetting to 60 seconds if it was lower when the number of alive Mercs dropped to 5
  - Fixed Hale being able to punch immediately as the Sweeping Charge ends.
  - Fixed Hale's punch knockback being too strong against Demoman, Heavy, and Medic
  - Fixed healing effects from the Warrior's Spirit and the Powerjack erasing overheal
  - Fixed the Quick-Fix occasionally failing to mirror the patient's Wall Climbing
  - Fixed a rare bug at the start of a round where Hale couldn't move
  - Fixed being able to Wall Climb off of projectiles