Valve has just unveiled a groundbreaking update to the Source SDK, incorporating the complete Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. This update empowers players to craft entirely new games from the ground up using the source code. Unlike the Steam Workshop or local content mods, this gives modders unprecedented freedom to modify, expand, and even completely overhaul Team Fortress 2 in virtually any way they can imagine.
However, there's a catch: any creations made using this update cannot be sold. This means that all mods or spin-off content must be released for free on a non-commercial basis. Despite this restriction, Valve allows these creations to be published on the Steam Store, where they will appear as new games in the Steam game list.
Valve emphasizes 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 to 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 to their TF2 inventory, if this makes sense for the mod."
In addition to the Source SDK update, Valve is rolling out a significant update to all its multiplayer back-catalog Source engine titles. This update includes 64-bit binary support, scalable HUD/UI, prediction fixes, and "a lot of other improvements" that will enhance 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 of the Team Fortress 2 comic series in December, after a seven-year wait. The comics have served as a rich source of lore and character development for fans, and they underscore Valve's ongoing commitment to one of its most enduring franchises.
