Team Fortress 2's Source Code Is Out, Fan-Made Games May Be Next

Team Fortress 2 has been a very durable performer for Valve, having remained active for the better part of two decades. And while there have been several mods since Team Fortress 2 was launched in 2007, Valve has now released the game's entire source code, which may open the door to a lot of fan creations.

Valve made the announcement on Team Fortress 2's official page, while noting that the source code gives mods builders "the ability to change, extend or rewrite TF2, making anything from small tweaks to complete conversions." However, this code is being shared on a non-commercial basis. This means that programmers won't be able to sell creations that were made from Team Fortress 2's foundations. However, the new fan-made mods can be listed in the Steam Store as free releases.

The line between professional game makers and modders has blurred over the years, and there are definitely talented fans who can probably work wonders, even with an 18-year-old game engine. In 2021, a group of modders took it upon themselves to recreate Team Fortress 2 in Valve's Source 2 game engine. It should be interesting to see if modders can push the Team Fortress 2 code into something that goes far beyond the scope of the original game.

Last year, players review-bombed Team Fortress 2 over the game's ongoing issues with bots, which have been a problem for a few years. Regardless, Valve has continued to offer some additional content for the game, including new maps, well after most publishers would have declared the title to be finished.

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