Team Fortress 2 Modders Rejoice as Valve Releases Full Client and Server Game Code

Surprise! Valve has unleashed a massive update to the Source SDK, granting full access to the Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. This opens the door for players to create entirely new games based on its source code. Unlike Steam Workshop modifications or local content mods, this update allows modders unprecedented freedom to alter, expand, and even completely rewrite Team Fortress 2.

While commercialization is prohibited—meaning any mods or derivative content must be free and non-commercial—creations can be published on the Steam Store, appearing as independent games within the Steam game list.

In a blog post, Valve explained this decision, acknowledging the significant community investment in TF2 inventories and Steam Workshop contributions. The company emphasized the community's crucial role in creating the vast majority of in-game items and requested that mod creators respect this by refraining from creating mods designed to profit from Workshop contributors' work. Valve hopes many mods will continue to allow players access to their TF2 inventories where appropriate.

This update also includes a significant overhaul of Valve's multiplayer Source engine back catalog, introducing 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and numerous other improvements across 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 update to the Team Fortress 2 comic. These comics have served not only as a rich source of information for fans, enriching their understanding of characters and storylines, but also as a testament to Valve's enduring commitment to one of its longest-running franchises.