Summary
- A datamined string labeled 'Tf' in a recent Deadlock update is leading many to believe that Team Fortress 3 is in the works.
- The file was found in a location that is reserved for Source 2 games.
- Team Fortress 2 was released in 2007, and many are eager for a new entry in the series.
A newly discovered string in a recent Deadlock update has sparked speculation that Team Fortress 3 could be in development at Valve. This finding sparks hope for a follow-up to Team 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 2 is the latest iteration of a long-running series of class-based multiplayer shooters. The series got its start as a mod for the original Quake. Valve acquired the property in a similar vein to Counter-Strike, which originated as a mod in Half-Life. Since then, Valve has released Team Fortress Classic and Team 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.
Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Full Client and Source Code
Following a long line of community-driven, fan-focused updates, Valve releases the full client and server code of Team Fortress 2 online.
Now, potential evidence of a successor to Team Fortress 2 has surfaced, thanks to datamined files. A Reddit user has uncovered a mysterious string labeled "Tf" in a Source 2 folder within a recent Deadlock update. 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 both Counter-Strike 2 and Deadlock.
New Valve Project May Be Team Fortress 3
The reference was found in a similar manner to how the rumored Half-Life 3 project HLX was discovered, and why Deadlock was originally known as Citadel, 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 to Team Fortress, the name doesn't reveal what kind of project is in the works. It is worth remembering that Deadlock evolved from an RTS into 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 the problems with cheaters in Team Fortress 2, a successor is in high demand. With massive untapped potential in the Team Fortress franchise, here's to hoping the leak is authentic and Team Fortress 3 is indeed on its way.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
