Summary
A newly discovered string in a recentDeadlockupdate has sparked speculation thatTeam Fortress 3could be in development at Valve. This finding sparks hope for a follow-up toTeam Fortress 2, a game that has managed to maintain an active community for more than 15 years despite a lack of major content updates in recent memory.
Originally released in 2007,Team Fortress 2is the latest iteration of a long-running series of class-based multiplayer shooters. The series got its start as a mod for the originalQuake.Valve acquired the property in a similar vein toCounter-Strike, which originated as a mod inHalf-Life. Since then,Valve has releasedTeam Fortress ClassicandTeam Fortress 2, known by many in the community for its iconic art style. The franchise is often credited with the success of class and hero-based shooters that have become a staple in online gaming today.
Now, potential evidence of a successor toTeam Fortress 2has surfaced, thanks to datamined files. A Reddit user has uncovered a mysterious string labeled “Tf” in a Source 2 folder within a recentDeadlockupdate. Furthermore, a reputable dataminer, Tyler McVicker, has confirmed the finding and its significance. According to McVicker, the file was not only found in a location that is reserved for Source 2 games, but it also seems to be more recent than those related to bothCounter-Strike 2andDeadlock.
New Valve Project May Be Team Fortress 3
The reference was found in a similar manner to how the rumoredHalf-Life 3projectHLXwas discovered, and whyDeadlockwas originally known asCitadel, giving it credence. Although the string doesn’t particularly look like a codename with its short title and non-standard capitalization pattern, McVicker’s view is that it isn’t just a random string.
As Valve is extremely consistent with their development tools, a new entry into the Source 2 folder appears to all but confirm the new project. That being said, even if the “Tf” refers toTeam Fortress, the name doesn’t reveal what kind of project is in the works. It is worth remembering thatDeadlockevolved from an RTSinto a hero-based shooter as an unannounced Valve project.
However, McVicker also largely rules out the possibility of it being a port, which points instead to a mainline entry in the series. As Valve’s class-based shooter has struggled to stay relevant, not least because of theproblems with cheaters inTeam Fortress 2, a successor is in high demand. With massive untapped potential in theTeam Fortressfranchise, here’s to hoping the leak is authentic andTeam Fortress 3is indeed on its way.
