Team Fortress 3 Rumored to Be In Development!

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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 recently uncovered string within the latest Deadlock update ignites discussions about the possibility that Valve might be working on Team Fortress 3. This revelation stirs enthusiasm among fans, who have been eagerly anticipating a sequel to Team Fortress 2 since its release over 15 years ago. Despite infrequent significant updates, this game has managed to preserve an engaged community.

First launched in 2007, Team Fortress 2 represents the most recent version of an extended series of multiplayer shooter games focusing on classes. Its roots can be traced back to a mod for the original Quake. Later, Valve Corporation acquired the intellectual property in a manner similar to their previous acquisition of Counter-Strike, which was initially developed as a mod for Half-Life. Following this acquisition, Valve has produced both Team Fortress Classic and Team Fortress 2, which have gained significant recognition within the gaming community for their distinctive art style. The franchise is frequently acknowledged as a key contributor to the popularity of class and hero-based shooter games that are widely enjoyed in online gaming today.

Recently, there appears to be hints of a possible follow-up to Team Fortress 2 emerging. This revelation stems from unearthed files discovered in the latest Deadlock update, as reported by a Reddit user. Intriguingly, within a Source 2 folder in this update, a cryptic label “Tf” was found. Moreover, trusted dataminer Tyler McVicker has verified this discovery and its implications. McVicker points out that the file is not only situated in an area typically reserved for Source 2 games, but it also seems to be newer than those linked to both Counter-Strike 2 and Deadlock themselves.

New Valve Project May Be Team Fortress 3

The information was uncovered in a fashion reminiscent of how the rumored “Half-Life 3” project, known as HLX, was unearthed, and how Deadlock was initially called Citadel, lending it credibility. While the title doesn’t seem to be a codename with its brief name and irregular capitalization scheme, McVicker believes that it isn’t just a random string of characters.

It seems very likely that a new project by Valve is underway, given their consistent approach to tool development and the appearance of a file in the Source 2 folder. However, the abbreviation “Tf” could refer to Team Fortress, but it doesn’t give us much insight into the nature of the project. It’s important to recall that an earlier Valve project, initially an RTS called Deadlock, eventually transformed into a hero-based shooter without any official announcement.

On the other hand, McVicker largely dismisses the idea that it could be a port, suggesting instead that it might be a mainline sequel in the series. With Team Fortress 2 facing challenges to remain relevant, particularly due to issues with cheaters, there’s a great need for a successor. Given the immense potential in the Team Fortress franchise, let’s hope the leak is true and we’re actually looking forward to the release of Team Fortress 3.

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2025-05-14 22:53