Unraveling the Mystery of Valve’s Latest Projects
Amidst the recent fervor surrounding Half-Life 3, it is essential to recognize the roots of this excitement. Much of the buzz has emerged from the datamining of new Source 2 code linked to updates for titles such as CS2 and Deadlock. Valve’s penchant for secrecy regarding upcoming projects means that the majority of information about the so-called ‘HLX’ has been derived from these datamines. However, HLX is not the only enigmatic project making waves this year; a new branch labeled ‘TF’ has also surfaced, likely alluding to Team Fortress.
Notable Valve investigator Tyler McVicker has recently highlighted fresh TF-related code, which he asserts serves as “effectively direct confirmation” that Team Fortress 2 is indeed being transitioned to Source 2. Despite being years old, Team Fortress 2 remains a formidable contender among the top multiplayer games on Steam, with Valve consistently rolling out updates, both substantial and minor. While the game may not be in dire need of revitalization, one could argue that CS:GO was similarly positioned before its upgrade to Counter-Strike 2.
The emergence of this new TF project within Source 2 has ignited speculation among Valve enthusiasts and fans of the series. Theories abound, ranging from the development of an entirely new game inspired by Team Fortress 2, to a CS2-style enhanced port, or even a TF2-themed demonstration for Valve’s forthcoming hardware lineup. Despite McVicker’s latest revelations, the exact nature of this TF project remains elusive, yet it does provide a clearer glimpse into the developers’ activities.
A recent datamine indicates that on October 14, new lines of code were incorporated into Source 1 import strings, which facilitate the transfer of elements from Valve’s older engine to the newer one. This particular code reveals a mechanic exclusive to Team Fortress 2, identified in the datamine as ‘func_respawnroomvisualizer.’ While earlier discoveries merely hinted at a connection between project TF and Team Fortress 2, McVicker expresses greater confidence in this latest find.
“This seemingly confirms that TF is referring to Team Fortress, and it’s also revealing that they are porting Team Fortress 2 maps into Source 2,” he explains. “With most multiplayer-related entities exclusive to Team Fortress 2 now being utilized, this is effectively direct confirmation that yes, there’s a team at Valve that is for some reason working on porting Team Fortress 2 into Source 2.”
However, McVicker notes that this does not clarify Valve’s intentions for the ported TF2 components. “Are they trying to do a CS2 thing, where they almost remaster Team Fortress 2, or is this a sequel?” he muses. With Deadlock continuing its development alongside its community, the mysterious HLX project seemingly in the works, and ongoing support for Team Fortress 2, CS2, and Dota 2, the prospect of a full-fledged sequel may be overly optimistic. Given that the first mention of this TF project emerged only this year, it could very well be the early stages of TF3—a game that may not see the light of day for several years. Conversely, if it is a CS2-style upgrade, players might find themselves engaging with it much sooner.
As with all unannounced projects from Valve, the future of this intriguing Team Fortress endeavor remains uncertain. In comparison to HLX, it appears that not much development has occurred on this mysterious TF project thus far. Nevertheless, it remains a captivating subject to monitor as more information unfolds.