Valve Breathes New Life into Team Fortress 2 with 64-Bit Update

Valve has breathed new life into its iconic title, Team Fortress 2, with a long-awaited update that introduces 64-bit support. The move marks a significant milestone for the game, which has been entertaining players for nearly 17 years.

This update is a game-changer for Team Fortress 2 enthusiasts, as it promises to enhance the performance of the ageing FPS. Initial reports suggest that players can expect a notable boost in frames-per-second, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience overall.

While the 64-bit update is a step in the right direction, it hasn't managed to quell the ongoing concern within the community regarding bots. Team Fortress 2 has been plagued by bot-related issues for years, and despite efforts to address the problem, there has been little improvement.

The update, released on April 18, brings a host of changes, including 64-bit support for both Windows and Linux clients and servers. Valve has encouraged players to report any bugs they encounter, providing a link to their GitHub page for issue tracking.

Team Fortress 2's enduring popularity is evident, with the game maintaining a strong player base since its launch in 2007. As of now, it sits comfortably as the 16th most-played game on Steam, boasting an impressive concurrent player count of 50,092. This places it ahead of other popular titles such as Monster Hunter: World, Call of Duty, and Football Manager.

Despite its success, Team Fortress 2 has often been criticised for its lack of attention from Valve, especially in comparison to other projects like Dota 2. Earlier this year, Valve shut down fan projects like Team Fortress: Source 2 and Portal 64, which were aimed at revitalising the classic game and its mechanics. Team Fortress: Source 2, in particular, had garnered significant interest, with a team of over 20 volunteers working on porting assets and rebuilding the game within the framework.

With Team Fortress 2 now entering its 17th year and still grappling with bot issues, the closure of these fan projects underscores the community's desire for a fresh take on Valve's beloved shooter. Whether Valve has further plans for Team Fortress 2 remains to be seen, but for now, players can enjoy the game's enhanced performance thanks to the latest update.