Valve has announced that after four years and over 200 updates, its popular and critically-acclaimed online team-based FPS, Team Fortress 2 (TF2), is now Free To Play (F2P) for both PC and Mac Steam users. Valve has pointed out that this makes Team Fortress 2 one of the most highly rated free games of all time; it sits with an average Metacritic score of 92/100.
Team Fortress 2 will now generate income through the Mann Co. in-game store, which sells all manner of cosmetic and gameplay items. Those who already own a copy of Team Fortress 2 will be given a ‘Proof of Purchase’ hat to wear on any character in-game.
Account types will be divided into ‘Free’ and ‘Premium’. Those who have already spent money on Team Fortress 2 will automatically become Premium account holders. Free account holders need only make a purchase at the Mann Co. store to be upgraded to Premium. Comparison chart below.
According to Valve, “The entire game can be played without making a purchase. All game modes, classes, and maps are available. Nearly every weapon is available through achievements, drops, or crafting.”
The F2P announcement comes as part of the Team Fortress 2 “Über Update”. Released yesterday (23 June 2011), it is the largest content pack delivered to TF2 since it shipped in 2007, with new items for all of the classes and a new map.
There have also been a bunch of tweaks and added features:
• The Main menu now has a “Start Playing” option which presents users with various game modes to choose from. Once selected, the game matches the player into the best available server for that mode.
• The Crafting interface has been redesigned to accommodate the fact that crafting blueprints are always known to players now.
• The Item selection screen in Loadouts has been redesigned to support selection among a larger number of items.
• Training improvements:
o New training user interface
o Added “A,W,S,D” movement instruction to Soldier training
o Added ammo instruction to Engineer training
o Clarified many instructional strings
o Added new voting sounds
o Fixed various Coaching bugs
o Fixed various gameplay bugs
For more information and to grab the game, head on over to the Team Fortress 2 Free to Play website.
As part of the fanfare surrounding this announcement, Valve has released one of the last remaining Team Fortress ‘Meet The’ short films – Meet The Medic!
Team Fortress 2 is now free to play << Comments and views
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