• Fixed crash when getting a malformed KeyValues buffer (thanks to Nathaniel Theis for the report)

• Fixed a dedicated server crash related to the dispenser
• Fixed a client crash related to the material system
• Fixed a client crash related to ragdolls
• Fixed a client crash related to demo playback and skipping ticks
• Fixed not being able to launch the game in fullscreen on Windows 10 Preview
• Fixed sentries not being able to hit players who are ducking while airborne. This was most noticeable when used in conjunction with the B.A.S.E. Jumper.
• Fixed not being able to preview paint changes in the backpack, Mann Co. Store, and Workshop import tool
• Fixed the Strange Dalokohs Bar incorrectly counting food eaten
• Fixed missing ambient sounds in some maps
• Fixed the Festive Targe not using the correct Blue team material
• Fixed the Ap-Sap causing stuttering on dedicated servers
• Added ETF2L 6v6 Season 20, ETF2L Highlander Season 8, and ETF2L Ultiduo 5 medals
• Added the Tip of the Hats community medal
• Added a "no hat" style for the Batter's Helmet
• Updated the localization files

The European Team Fortress 2 League are about to kick off their 21st 6v6 season, with applications open to all skill levels. To sign up, join a team or simply find out more about competitive TF2, head over to http://etf2l.org.

To further whet your appetite, check out the best frags from Season 20 in this video made by Premiership Medic Beater!

Florida LAN is bringing Highlander to the competitive LAN scene this May 16th with the Highlander Tournament, hosted by Apocalyptic Gaming Center in Winter Park, Florida. Registration is still open enter now for a full day of fragging, raffles and cash prizes.

• Fixed the Strange Dalokohs Bar not counting food eaten
• Fixed a client crash related to the material system
• Fixed a client crash related to the control point HUD
• Fixed a server crash related to the Robot Destruction game mode
• Fixed name changes not being applied to all panels
• Fixed a bug with tournaments ending early if the previous round ended in a stalemate
• Fixed the Australium Scattergun using the fire material
• Fixed not seeing the particle effects for weapons and cosmetic items in the player model panels
• Added Gamers Assembly 2015 medals
• Added a "no hat" style for the Batter's Helmet
• Updated more sound files to use .mp3 format instead of .wav
• Updated nav_check_stairs to be marked as a cheat
• Updated Mann Co. Store prices for foreign currencies to current USD equivalents
• Updated the localization files
• Mannpower update
  • Updated grapple model and player animations
  • Fixed not hearing some of the powerup sounds
  • Removed ctf_foundry from the default map cycle to focus on gathering information on the remaining maps
  • Knockout: reduced melee damage multiplier
  • Knockout: max health buff has been reduced for the Heavy and for the Demoman with a shield or decapitating sword equipped
  • Grapple: increased base damage for attaching to a player and increased bleed damage while attached

• Fixed a client crash related to the game UI
• Updated the localization files

• Fixed some props flickering when shot
• Fixed a listen server crash when setting mp_tournament 1 on the command line
• Fixed clipped Preset button in the Quickswitch panel
• Fixed some .mp3 sound script entries that were missed in the previous update
• Fixed self-made taunts not displaying the community-sparkle particle effect
• Fixed a Taunt Workshop bug related to looping animations
• Fixed item levels not displaying during trading sessions
• Added UGC Highlander Season 13, Highlander Season 14, 6v6 Season 15, 6v6 Season 16, 4v4 Season 2, and 4v4 Season 3 medals
• Updated Mann Co. Store prices for foreign currencies to current USD equivalents
• Mannpower update
  • Added powerup icons to the HUD deathnotice reports
  • Fixed Thunder Mountain not showing up in the Quickplay dialog's list of maps
  • Fixed the intel getting into a bad state and becoming unreachable under the ground at the cap point
  • Medics now move slower than their heal target while their heal target is using the grapple
  • Removed random weapon damage spread
  • Removed crit immunity from the Resistance powerup
  • Removed random melee critical hits
  • Increased all melee damage by 30%
  • Knockout powerup
    • Removed melee damage critical hits
    • Added double melee damage multiplier
    • A Half-Zatoichi kill now refills to base health only, not buffed health
  • Updated ctf_thundermountain
    • Fixed being able to get to rocks in the death cliff intel areas
    • Fixed being able to escape the playable part of the map
    • Fixed being able to get on top of the center tower roof
  • Updated ctf_foundry
    - Added nobuild brushes to the tops of the inside white tankers

Hey, what's up, everybody? We're adding taunts to the TF2 Workshop!

What are taunts? They're character-specific animations you can trigger in-game to either announce that you've just shot someone or would like to be shot yourself. And now you can make your own! We've been blown away by the quality of item submissions in the Workshop so far, and this feels like the next logical step to letting creative folks in the community help make the game even better. If you're a talented animator, there's now a whole new way to contribute content. And if you're not an animator, you can still look forward to getting a lot more ways to express yourself on the battlefield in 2015.

Now, as we all know, almost everybody in the TF2 community is made up of Bruce Wayne-like philanthropist billionaires, so most of you can tune out for this paragraph. This next part is aimed specifically at the very slim margin of you who don't already have enough money and would like more. That's right! The TF2 team will be regularly selecting top-rated taunts in the Workshop to be sold in the Mann Co. Store.

Be sure to check out the Workshop Taunt FAQ for more information on how to create and upload taunts.

One last thing: To help celebrate the Taunt Workshop launch, we're happy to release three all-new community-made taunts, The Boston Breakdance, Most Wanted and The Killer Solo, now available at the Mann Co. Store!

• Announcing the Taunt Workshop!
  • Steam Workshop taunt submissions can now be "Certified Compatible" and are no longer tagged as Beta
  • Check out the blog post for more information
• Added 3 new community-created taunts to the Mann Co. Store
  • Scout taunt: The Boston Breakdance
  • Sniper taunt: The Killer Solo
  • Sniper taunt: Most Wanted
• Added Crate #92 to the drop list
• Updated sound vo files to use .mp3 files instead of .wav files to reduce hard drive space
• Fixed a bug related to jiggle bones and cl_jiggle_bone_framerate_cutoff
• Fixed an exploit related to material .vmt files and playing on servers using sv_pure
• Fixed the game not running for some dual GPU machines (Mac OS X)
• Fixed a dedicated server crash caused by a Soldier with Mantreads landing on a player with the Warlock powerup equipped
• Fixed an exploit related to Highlander mode and changing teams with instant respawn
• Fixed a bug with the vote system UI when sv_vote_ui_hide_disabled_issues was set to 0
• Fixed an exploit where clients could bypass the name change timer
• Fixed a bug that caused some particles to not draw correctly
• Fixed shadows drawing on some wearables while in first person
• Fixed an exploit related to the Gunslinger and hitting teammates to generate a guaranteed third hit that is critical
• Fixed the Killstreak icon not being positioned correctly in the HUD targetID panel
• Fixed not being able to activate the Phlogistinator's buff using alt-fire when ammo was below the cost of an airblast
• Updated the Mann Co. Store and Armory to not display item levels
• Fixed the Phlogistinator's bottle not getting the crit-boost material effect
• Added a "no helmet" style for the Antlers
• Added the OSL.tf tournament medals
• Added the Florida LAN tournament medals
• Reduced the latency of voice audio
• Updated the equip_region for the Black Knight's Bascinet
• Updated The Little Bear so it can get assists in Pyrovision
• Updated weapons sounds for the axe_hit, blade_hit, and cbar_hit sound effects
• Updated Mann Co. Store prices for foreign currencies to current USD equivalents
• Updated the description for The Gunslinger to include the three hit combo
• Updated the localization files
• Mannpower update
  • Added new map ctf_thundermountain
  • Added new powerup: Knockout
    • Restricts the carrier to Melee and Grappling Hook only
    • Max health increased by 150
    • Immune to airblast and damage pushback
    • Melee weapon always crits and forcibly shoves the victim away
    • Melee hit forces the victim to drop their powerup or the flag if they have it
    • 4X melee damage to buildings
  • Grappling Hook changes
    • Added hook jump hit the jump key while being pulled-in to detach and jump extra distance (jump velocity convar "tf_grapplinghook_jump_up_speed")
    • Added support for hooking into enemy players
      • Release the fire button once the hook has hit an enemy player to draw yourself to them
      • Hooked victims will bleed for 2 health per second
      • Unhook at any time by switching back to the grapple, or firing it again away from your victim
      • Force detach if the hook is not in line of sight of hooked in enemy for more than 1 second
      • Sound cue added when hooked by an enemy's grapple
    • Added new Grapple weapon sounds and grapple projectile
    • Reduced max firing distance to 4000 units (convar "tf_grapplinghook_max_distance")
    • Increased hook re-fire delay from 0.2 seconds to 0.5 seconds
    • Re-enabled fall damage for the grappling hook (convar "tf_grapplinghook_prevent_fall_damage")
    • Fixed grappling hook rope drawing as the wrong color for friendly disguised Spy
  • Added Revenge temporary powerup
    • Activates and spawns when a significant game imbalance is detected
    • Temporarily grants crits, increased fire rate and increased clip size
  • Added unique powerup pickup sounds
  • Random Melee critical hits are now enabled in Mannpower (ConVar "tf_weapon_criticals_melee 2")
  • Strength: Fixed sentries inheriting the double damage multiplier
  • Reduced the time it takes a dropped powerup to become available for pickup by 0.5 seconds

• Added the OzFortress Season 12 tournament medals
• Added a "no helmet" style for the Brimstone
• Fixed a client crash related to disappearing particles, props, and players
• Fixed weapons not showing on players until they fire
• Fixed cosmetics, weapons and weapon attachments casting shadows at the wrong time
• Fixed some Unusual particle effects not drawing correctly
• Updated trigger_hurt entities to allow Engineers building in them when they are set for zero or negative damage
• Updated Mann Co. Store prices for foreign currencies to current USD equivalents
• Updated the localization files
• Mannpower mode changes:
  • Warlock: Fixed reflecting damage even when invulnerable
  • Added a delay of 0.2 seconds between releasing and firing the grappling hook again