Valve has just unveiled a significant update to the Source SDK, which now includes the full Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. This groundbreaking update allows players to create entirely new games from the source code. Unlike modifications through the Steam Workshop or local content mods, this update provides modders with the freedom to alter, expand, and even completely rewrite Team Fortress 2 in virtually any way they can imagine.
However, there's a catch: creations made with this new SDK cannot be sold. All mods and spin-off content must be released for free on a non-commercial basis. Yet, these creations can still be published on the Steam Store, appearing as new games within the Steam game list.
Valve emphasized the importance of respecting the TF2 community's contributions, stating, "Players have a lot of investment in their TF2 inventories, and Steam Workshop contributors have created a lot of that content. The majority of items in the game now are thanks to the hard work of the TF2 community. To respect that, we're asking TF2 mod makers continue to respect that connection, and to not make mods that have the purpose of trying to profit off Workshop contributors' efforts. We're hoping that many mods will continue to allow players access their TF2 inventory, if this makes sense for the mod."
In addition to the SDK update, Valve announced a comprehensive update to all its multiplayer back-catalog Source engine titles. This update includes 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and numerous other enhancements, benefiting not only Team Fortress 2 but also Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Counter-Strike: Source, and Half-Life: Deathmatch: Source.
This news comes on the heels of the release of the seventh and final update to the Team Fortress 2 comic series in December, after a seven-year wait. These comics have been a valuable resource for fans, offering new insights into characters and stories, and they underscore Valve's ongoing commitment to one of its most beloved franchises.
