• Fixed another issue where compressed community maps would not be decompressed by clients if the file size was too large

• Fixed an issue where compressed community maps would not be decompressed by clients if the file size was too large

• Mann Up servers are now available in Australia

• Fixed an issue where plugin_load may load a non-binary file type
• Fixed an issue where decompressed file sizes were not being checked by the engine
• Fixed a client crash related to Unusual items and the character loadout screen
• Fixed an item exploit where tools were being used for purposes other than the original intent
• Fixed The Shortstop not using its crit sound when firing crits
• Fixed the HUD achievement tracker not filtering map-specific achievements
• Fixed an issue where character voice lines would be clipped
• Fixed disguised Spies losing their disguised cosmetic items when they touch a supply closet
• Fixed the HUD 3D Character equipping the wrong item when Spies change their disguised weapon
• Fixed the Demoman's shield charge turn rate when using joystick input
  • Joystick input now matches keyboard/mouse input
• Added new promo items
• Added ETF2L 6v6 Season 17 and ETF2L Highlander Season 5 medals
• Updated the localization files
• Updated metal hats to sound like metal when they fall off players' heads
• Updated the equip_regions for The Toss-Proof Towel, The Titanium Towel, The Tartan Shade, Marshall's Mutton Chops, Stockbroker's Scarf, The Carl, and The Polar Pullover
• Updated cp_dustbowl
  • Fixed players standing in sky over the beginning of stage 1
  • Fixed collision on rocks in the front of stage 1 where stickybombs could be placed inside them
• Updated cp_junction_final
  • Players are now prevented from building in spawn rooms
• Updated ctf_2fort
  • Fixed players standing on conduits in flag rooms
  • Fixed players standing in sky over Red battlements
  • Fixed a missing face under the stairs in the Blu base ramp room that let players see enemies above
  • Fixed collision on props under stairs in Red's courtyard
• Updated ctf_turbine
  • Fixed collision on spawn doors
  • Added prop to facilitate players jumping up to raised platform and fixed surrounding collision
  • Fixed collision under stairs in mid room
  • Fixed misc prop collision
  • Fixed collision on signs in mid room
  • Fixed the clipping in the rafters of flag rooms
  • Increased performance with addition of area portals
  • Added decals under ammo and health packs
  • Smoothed geometry in the vents
  • Added nobuild around spawn doors
  • Added light props over Red and Blu gate 1 doorways
• Updated koth_lakeside_event
• Updated koth_lakeside_final
  • Fixed bot navigation errors
  • Prevented players from building in spawn room doors
  • Fixed rock piles to mirror on Red and Blu sides
• Updated pl_goldrush
  • Fixed players shooting projectiles through the window in the mining tower into Red's first spawn and Blu's second spawn
  • Fixed players standing in sky above Blu spawn in stage 3
  • Fixed player clipping exploit above the Blu exit in stage 3

Register now to take part in the Second Annual Reddit vs Tumblr TF2 Match, a month of friendly competition between Tumblr and Reddit. In these show-matches all levels of experience are welcome to apply. In the words of the event's creators: "One of the cornerstones of the event is to create a venue for players with varying levels of skill to have a chance to play and have fun."

This season will have five teams representing each community from around the world: June 14th - US West; June 15th - US East; June 21st - EU; June 22nd - Aus/Oceania; and a "Mystery Game" June 28th. Check out the FAQ for more information.

• Fixed a problem that was preventing clients from uploading items to the Steam Workshop

Team Fortress Comics #3 is live! You can catch up with Issue #1 and Issue #2 here, or just keep reading for the ultra-fast TL;DR version:

Gray Mann has taken control of Mann Co., the mercs have disbanded, and the Administrator has disappeared! Six months later, the Administrator has tasked her assistant Miss Pauling with getting the team back together for one last mysterious job. With Demo, Spy, Scout, Soldier and Pyro already on board, Pauling must find the rest of the team before Gray finds her. Meanwhile, Saxton Hale has reunited with Maggie, an old flame, only to discover she is now working for Charles Darling, his greatest nemesis. All caught up? Good. Here's Issue #3.

Let's see, what else? Oh, we're also working on a Moonbase! It's got a whole bunch of interesting new gameplay and we're pretty excited about it. We think you will be too. Here's some concept art:

Last thing: taunts! We're working on a way for you guys to upload your own taunts to the Workshop, which should be a lot of fun. We're also animating some new ones ourselves that we think you're going to love. We'll leave you with a tiny preview:

• Improved the Backpack UI
  • Added page buttons for all pages
  • Removed prev/next buttons
  • Updated the drag/drop behavior to interact with the page buttons
• Strange quality items can now be placed on the Steam Community Market
• Added a "Show Untradable Items" checkbox to the recipe UI.
• Added the smoke effect to The Soldier's Stogie
• Added the InfoShow 2014 community event medal
• Added Crate #82 and Crate #83 to the drop list
• Crate drop rates have been significantly lowered
• Removed Crate #60, Crate #75, Crate #76 and Crate #77 from the drop list
• Virtual Reality mode
  • The game will now start in VR mode if it is launched from Steam while Steam is running in VR mode
• Updated the equip_region for the Humanitarian's Hachimaki, The Special Eyes, the Hero's Hachimaki, The Blazing Bull, Master's Yellow Belt, The Lucky Shot, and The Deadliest Duckling
• Updated The Gunboats so they can be used in Medieval mode
• Updated the Wrangler so Strange parts can be applied to it
  • Strange parts only increment if a Wrangler-controlled Sentry does the scoring
• Updated Chemistry Sets
  • Started dropping Series 3 Chemistry Sets with an expiration date
  • Retroactively added Series tags to older Chemistry Sets
• Fixed a client crash related to killstreak effects
• Fixed seeing the incorrect cosmetic items on players when the server has been running for a long time
• Fixed hats not dropping into the world when players are killed
• Fixed the Jarate effect not being displayed on some cosmetic items
• Fixed framerate affecting player turn rate while using the Demoman's shield charge
• Fixed flashlight shadows projected on players for Linux and Mac clients
• Fixed seeing the fire texture on Runner's Warm-Up and the Tiny Timber in DirectX 8
• Fixed The Doe-Boy using incorrect team materials
• Fixed some Strange parts not being counted properly when attached to wearable weapons like the Mantreads and Demoman's shields
• Fixed Spies speaking their payload cart forward/backward response_rules lines while disguised
• Fixed Mann vs. Machine Giant Heavies not playing the correct override sounds for their Miniguns
• Fixed the Huntsman charge bar being misaligned

The word "hero" gets thrown around a lot these days. Mostly by cowards who've never killed a man for no reason. But if you're a distinguished war veteran like me, you know that only three types of people deserve to be called "hero": men who dive on top of live grenades, men with the cahones to throw a live grenade, and the hard working men and women on the assembly line building live grenades.

That is it. End of story. No exceptions.

Having said that, if you're a distinguished war veteran like me, you also know how the chain of command works. So when some pencilneck down at TF2 HQ tells you to write a blog post adding someone to the Hero List, you do it! So listen up, because the hundreds of 3D modelers, texture artists, concept artists and other creative types who submit to the Workshop each and every day are the greatest generation of heroes, and Kritzkast is honoring them. These are just some of the many people who've made Team Fortress 2 what it is today, and by God, they deserve your respect until we are told otherwise.

Donations are now open for Tip of the Hats, an annual charity livestream event benefiting One Step Camp and hosted by the competitive Team Fortress 2 gaming community. The event will start streaming live at twitch.tv March 29th at 12:00 PM EST. Last year's inaugural event lasted 36 hours and raised over $35,000 towards camp experiences and other educational and excursion programs for children with cancer. Players from around the world participated in the livestream and helped to make it one of the biggest events in Team Fortress 2 history, with more than 65,000 people tuning in.