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After announcing the project in 2023, Destiny and Halo developer Bungie is finally ready to reveal gameplay for the next evolution of its Marathon franchise, which predates both of those. In a livestream earlier today, studio members offered early details about the project while sharing several videos that helped clarify how the game will look, play, and feel.
Marathon and its sequels were part of Bungie’s earliest catalog of game releases, with the first arriving in 1994. This new iteration is a dramatic departure, though some of the connected elements of lore suggest meaningful links between the original games and this new project.
The new Marathon is built as a team-based extraction shooter that includes both PvP and PvE elements. Each player takes on the role of a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary who has given up their natural body to inhabit an artificial form to explore and retrieve valuable equipment from a lost and abandoned colony on the planet of Tau Ceti IV.
Visuals have a bright and neon aesthetic, a notable departure from much of Bungie’s recent work on Destiny. Even so, seeing the game in action makes the Bungie connection much more apparent; from the way guns and scopes work to the sensation of running, sliding, and other movement, Marathon seems to maintain the tight and intuitive shooting action that is a hallmark of the studio’s work.
Each Runner has a name and a personality, including the likes of Glitch, Void, and Blackbird. Your choice of Runner appears to set a baseline of playstyle, even as subsequent matches, equipment selection, and upgrades allow you to dramatically reshape and build-craft a character that matches a desired playstyle.
Matches include up to 18 players, usually in crews of three, though there was a mention of a way players may choose to go lone wolf and attempt extractions solo. During a match, teams scavenge through the alien ruins while fending off computer-controlled robots and other dangers, as well as the assaults of real enemy players controlling their own runners. Each match has a time limit, and you must try to extract as much equipment as possible before the match ends; the retrieved equipment can then help fuel subsequent runs.
As a player navigates through maps, in addition to various weaponry, there are several special abilities and gear that add to the tactical complexity of play. In the brief snippets of gameplay shown, we saw things like stealth tools, explosives, agility implants, shield charges, and other enhancements.
Alongside an early look at gameplay, Bungie’s showcase also revealed a lengthy animated short by acclaimed director Alberto Mielgo, who some may recognize from his directorial work on “The Witness,” one of the animated shorts that was part of Netflix’s Love, Death, & Robots. Mielgo’s new Marathon short helped to layer in some tonal understanding of what Bungie appears to be going for. Elements of body-horror and existential angst are prent throughout the film, which sees a few different Runners moving through battles on Tau Ceti IV while questioning the nature of their own personal past and human nature. In keeping with some of the feelings of the original Marathon game, the film short suggests a disquieting and uncomfortable vibe about a future in which humanity has veered into some dark places.
Marathon targets a launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam) on September 23. Ahead of that, Bungie has suggested that joining the Marathon Community Discord opens up a chance to interface more directly with the development team and get a chance to be in on early playtests.
Check out the gameplay premiere trailer below.
Pricing has been a controversial topic following last week's Nintendo Switch 2 reveal. Whether you're talking the announced $450 base model, the $80 price tag of Mario Kart World, or even the $10 the company wants players to spend on tech demo/instruction manual Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, many have expressed frustration and disappointment with Nintendo's pricing strategy coming off the heels of the wildly successful and often more affordable Nintendo Switch. And that's before the Trump administration's tariffs postponed US and Canada preorders as Nintendo contemplated raising the price further.
One of the more consumer-friendly announcements came in the form of how Nintendo is handling the upgrades for the two Switch entries in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. If you already own those games, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 version, which adds improved framerate and resolution, as well as access to the new Zelda Notes app functionality, which offers additional lore in the form of voice memos, the ability to send items and Ultrahand blueprints to friends, and a voiced GPS system. Even better, Nintendo offers the updates at no additional cost for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. However, we learned this week that the upgraded version of Breath of the Wild does not include the downloadable content.
Originally reported by IGN, Game Informer obtained a statement from a Nintendo spokesperson confirming this news. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition does not include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC," the statement said. "That DLC is available as a separate purchase."
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC arrived in two parts spread across 2017: The Master Trials and The Champions' Ballad. The Master Trials allows Link to participate in the Trial of the Sword, a combat-based gauntlet where he must take down waves of enemies. As he clears the three trials, he bolsters the Master Sword's attack strength. The second part, The Champions' Ballad, adds a new dungeon, more story content, and the most difficult boss battle in the game. If you complete this DLC, you earn Master Cycle Zero, a motorcycle that Link can ride around Hyrule.
The expectation that the downloadable content would be included with the upgraded edition likely stems from the industry-wide trend where new-gen versions of older games are released as "definitive editions," consisting of both a remastered version of the game and all the content that came out for said title. With Breath of the Wild more than eight years old, it would stand to reason that Nintendo could make the Switch 2 version follow that philosophy, but it would make for a tricky pricing structure when the Expansion Pass is $20 and the upgrade to the Switch 2 version is $10. This also further highlights the fact that Nintendo's first-party games rarely go on sale, even when they're nearly a decade old.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched on Switch and Wii U in 2017 to widespread critical acclaim. It earned a 10 out of 10 from Game Informer and went on to claim the outlet's Game of the Year award in 2017.
Do you think it's reasonable that the downloadable content isn't included with the Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild? Will you be upgrading your copy of Breath of the Wild to its Nintendo Switch 2 version? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
Marvel Strike Force launched in March 2018 with a hefty roster of characters from various corners of the Marvel universes. From Earth's Mightiest Heroes to your friendly neighborhood Defenders, Marvel Strike Force has updated its roster with characters from across its myriad comic, movies, and streaming properties.
Developer Boundless Entertainment has added new characters to recruit and battle at a steady clip, so it can be tricky to keep up with. We've gathered the up-to-date list of heroes and villains you can play as and against in the hit Marvel-themed mobile game. You can check out the full roster of playable characters below.
Marquee Characters Abomination Absorbing Man Adam Warlock Agatha Harkness Agent Coulson Agent Venom America Chavez Ancient One Annihilus Ant-Man Anti-Venom Apocalypse Archangel Ares Baron Zemo Beast Beta Ray Bill Bishop Black Bolt Black Cat Black Knight Black Panther Black Panther (1MM) Black Panther (Shuri) Black Widow Blade Blob Brawn Bucky Barnes Bullseye Cable Colleen Wing Colossus Captain America Captain America (Sam Wilson) Captain America (WWII) Captain Britain Captain Carter Captain Marvel Carnage Cloak Corvus Glaive Cosmic Ghost Rider Cosmo Crossbones Crystal Cull Obsidian Cyclops Dagger Daken Daredevil Daredevil (Modern) Dark Beast Darkhawk Dazzler Deadpool Deathlok Deathpool Doctor Doom Doctor Octopus Doctor Strange Doctor Strange (Heartless) Doctor Voodoo Domino Dormammu Drax Ebony Maw Echo Electro Elektra Elsa Bloodstone Emma Frost Emma Frost (X-Men) Falcon Falcon (Joaquin) Fantomex Firestar Forge Gambit Gamora Ghost Ghost-Spider Ghost Rider Ghost Rider (Robbie) Gladiator Gorr the God Butcher Graviton Green Goblin Green Goblin (Classic) Groot Guardian Gwenom Gwenpool Hank Pym Havok Hawkeye Heimdall Hela Hercules Hit-Monkey Howard the Duck Hulk Hulkbuster Human Torch Iceman Ikaris Invisible Woman Iron Fist Iron Fist (WWII) Iron Man Iron Man (Infinity War) Iron Man (Zombie) Iron Patriot Ironheart Ironheart (MKII) Jean Grey Jessica Jones Jubilee Juggernaut Juggernaut (Zombie) Kahori Kang the Conqueror Karnak Kate Bishop Kestrel Killmonger Kingpin Kitty Pride Knull Korath the Pursuer Korg Kraven the Hunter Lady Deathstrike Leader Lilandra Lizard Loki Loki (Teen) Longshot Luke Cage M'Baku Madelyne Pryor Magik Magneto Man-Thing Mantis Maria Hill Medusa Mephisto Mighty Thor Minn-erva Mister Fantastic Mister Negative Misty Knight Mockingbird Moon Knight Moondragon Moonstone Morbius Mordo Morgan le Fay Mr. Sinister Ms. Marvel (Classic) Ms. Marvel (Hard Light) Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) Multiple Man Mysterio Mystique Nakia Namor Nebula Negasonic Teenage Warhead Nemesis Nick Fury Nico Minoru Night Nurse Nightcrawler Nimrod Nobu Northstar Nova Oath Odin Okoye Old Man Logan Omega Red Omega Red (Phoenix Force) Omega Sentinel Pandapool Patriot Peggy Carter Peni Parker Peter B. Parker Phoenix Photon Phyla-Vell Polaris Professor X Proxima Midnight Psylocke Punisher Pyro Quake Quicksilver Red Goblin Red Guardian Red Hulk Red Skull Rescue Rhino Rocket Raccoon Rogue Ronan the Accuser Ronin Sabretooth Sasquatch Scarlet Spider Scarlet Witch Scarlet Witch (Zombie) Scientist Supreme Scream Sentinel Sersi Shadow King Shang-Chi Sharon Carter She-Hulk Shatterstar Shocker Shuri Sif Silver Sable Silver Samurai Silver Surfer Spider-Man Spider-Man (2099) Spider-Man (Big Time) Spider-Man (Miles Morales) Spider-Man (Noir) Spider-Man (Pavitr) Spider-Man (Symbiote) Spider-Punk Spider-Slayer Spider-Weaver Spider-Woman Squirrel Girl Star-Lord Star-Lord (Annihilation) Star-Lord (T’Challa) Starbrand Stature Storm Stryfe Sunfire Sunspot Super Skrull Swarm Sylvie Taskmaster Thanos Thanos (Endgame) The Thing Titania Thor Thor (Infinity War) Tigra Toad Ultimus Ultron Union Jack U.S. Agent Vahl Valkyrie Venom Vision Viv Vision Void Knight Vulture Wasp War Machine White Tiger Winter Soldier Wolverine Wong X-23 Yelena Belova Yellowjacket Yo-Yo YonduMinion Characters A.I.M. Assaulter A.I.M. Grenadier A.I.M. Infector A.I.M. Monstrosity A.I.M. Researcher A.I.M. Security Doombot - Summon Hand Archer Hand Assassin Hand Blademaster Hand Sentry Hand Sorceress Hydra Armored Guard Hydra Rifle Trooper Hydra Scientist Hydra Sniper Inner Demon (Cyclops) - Summon Inner Demon (Demon) - Summon Inner Demon (Dragon) - Summon Kree Cyborg Kree Noble Kree Oracle Kree Reaper Kree Royal Guard Mercenary Lieutenant Mercenary Riot Guard Mercenary Sniper Mercenary Soldier Ravager Boomer Ravager Bruiser Ravager Stitcher S.H.I.E.L.D. Assault S.H.I.E.L.D. Medic S.H.I.E.L.D. Operative S.H.I.E.L.D. Security S.H.I.E.L.D. Trooper Ultron Accelerator - Summon Ultron Fabricator - Summon Ultron Incinerator - Summon Undead Asgardian - Summon
For more on Marvel Strike Force, check out our hub.
Believe it or not, we play a lot of games here at Game Informer, but it isn’t always easy getting our hands on everything, let alone finishing them and writing a proper review. We’re always looking for more ways to point readers toward the most interesting games available – especially those that could easily slip through the cracks – so we’ve created Spotlight to highlight the cool games we’ve been dabbling with recently that we believe may be worth your time. We love chatting with each other about the games we check out each day, and we want to add you to the conversation. Here is a selection of noteworthy titles some of the editors have been sampling and want to shout out.
Blue PrincePlatforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC – Release: April 10
After reviewing The Roottrees Are Dead, I didn’t expect to sink into another compelling puzzle game that would require note-taking this soon. Blue Prince, a game I’ve had my eye on for some time, has quickly occupied my brain matter with its inventive and engaging puzzle-solving. This first-person roguelike adventure tasks you with reaching the 46th room in an ever-changing mansion, where the floor plan materializes as you progress. Opening a door presents one of three randomized rooms to step into; some have multiple doors to allow forward progress, others are dead ends, but nearly all contain some kind of helpful perk, a vital piece of knowledge, a useful item, or a tantalizing secret.
Building a path to the final room is a tricky and mind-bending exercise, especially since you’re limited in the number of steps you take each day. Once you run out of steps or are unable to create a forward path, the day concludes and the mansion resets itself (along with your inventory) to start a fresh run tomorrow. This hook is plenty fun on the surface, but it doesn’t take long before you realize there are deeper mysteries to be solved beyond what lies in Room 46 – and I can’t wait to unravel them all. – Marcus Stewart
PuffiesPlatforms: iOS – Release: April 3
Puffies is embarrassingly simple in its execution. If you remember those puffy stickers that probably appeared on your elementary school tests, the game is basically that. Mechanically, it functions the same as putting together a puzzle, but the context developer Lykke has created around it makes it more fun, more adorable, and sometimes more challenging. It has unseated Balatro as my go-to mobile game when I have a few minutes to spare. Receiving an empty sheet and a series of stickers and placing them just feels satisfying, and the art is great.
The challenge level and time commitment of each sheet are also clear before you start, which means if I only have three minutes to spare, I will go for the short, easy puzzle, but if I have more time, I am happy to go for the larger, more challenging puzzle. It is only available via Apple Arcade for the moment, but Lykke’s last, excellent, comparably simple puzzle game, Stitch, eventually made its way to Switch. I am hopeful Puffies will make its way to Switch (or Switch 2) as a premium game soon. – Kyle Hilliard
Pilo and the HolobookPlatforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series One, Switch, PC – Release: April 10
Metroid Prime awakened the part of my brain that really likes scanning and cataloging things in games, and I’m always happy to indulge in this exercise. Pilo and the Holobook turns that singular mechanic into its entire identity. As a cute talking fox working as an apprentice for an old scientist, you’re tasked with exploring the cosmos to visit planets and scan everything in sight. Doing so turns the items into stickers added to a book, which quickly fills up as you can scan just about anything. Simple puzzles and quests tied to scanning are a breeze, making Pilo and the Holobook a laid-back (if one-note) excursion perfect for decompressing after dealing with more mechanically dense games or the rigors of life in general. I also dig its vibrant hand-painted style, which, combined with its isometric perspective, is reminiscent of Bastion. – Marcus Stewart
HastePlatforms: PC – Release April 1
It only takes a few seconds of seeing Haste gameplay to understand why it’s cool. Having your hand on the controller speeds that understanding up even more, which is thematically consistent because Haste is all about speed. The basic gameplay is about outrunning an encroaching dark force on foot through a series of randomized levels. Sonic the Hedgehog is the easy and, frankly, appropriate comparison, but you have much more freedom of movement and fewer opportunities to be stopped in your tracks.
The game is also a roguelite, which means you are revisiting slightly different levels over and over. Expanding your gameplay skills is arguably more important to forward progression than the light RPG mechanics that let you tweak and upgrade your character’s statistics. I would like a steeper upward ramp of upgrades for your character, but the basic running gameplay is undeniable and immediately fun to play. – Kyle Hilliard
Marvel Rivals – Season 2Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC – Release: April 11
Today sees the launch of the new big season for Marvel Rivals, and the breadth of content on offer helps make it clear why so many players are remaining hooked to daily play. In these early months after the game’s full launch, Netease has impressed with the number of new maps, characters, modes, and other content the game has added. After a few early sessions today, it’s clear that trend is continuing.
It will be a long time before the meta settles, but new playable hero Emma Frost seems like a great addition to the cast, especially in her Vanguard role – a space where the game has been lacking for options. The new Krakoa map and overriding Hellfire Gala theme for the season does an excellent job of capturing the magic and beauty of that lengthy X-Men comic era. New team-ups, balance changes, and engagement hooks (like a Bingo-style reward loop for seasonal content) all provide solid reasons to log back in and try your hand at some matches. – Matt Miller
Arguably the talk of the game industry this week is Blue Prince, a wildly inventive puzzle game that launched on April 10. This first-person adventure tasks you with exploring a 45-room mansion to find a mysterious 46th room. The catch is that each room is generated from a randomized selection of various blueprints, each containing its own layouts and number of entryways, and the goal is to build a connecting path to Room 46...or so it seems.
Rooms contain far more than meets the eye, hiding bespoke puzzles, hidden clues, and vital secrets that add layers of intrigue to this unique adventure. Blue Prince is a tough game to describe, so we’re happy to simply show you how it works in this episode of New Gameplay Today.
Blue Prince Is The Next Must-Play Puzzle Game: fJoin editor Marcus Stewart and special guests Jesse Vitelli (@mamavitelli) and Eric Van Allen (@seamoosi) as they break down what makes Blue Prince so special and one of the best games of the year.
Baldur's Gate 3, one of the best games of 2023, is just as popular as ever a year and a half after its full release. In the months since its launch, developer Larian Studios has put out seven major patches to fix bugs, correct errors, and add new content. Last November, it announced the eighth patch, boasting more content than most of the previous patches, would be the final one. Today, the studio announced it goes live on April 17, next Tuesday. To celebrate, Larian will be hosting a live stream on April 16 at 1 PM UTC on its Twitch and YouTube channels.
Patch eight will add three major pieces of content. The first, and arguably the most anticipated, is full crossplay between consoles, Mac, and PC. The second addition is a photo mode, a common post-launch feature for modern big-budget games. Players can pose party members, select different lens and filter options, and add frames and stickers to their final photos.
The third addition is the most impactful: twelve new subclasses, one for each class in the game. As always, the classes are pulled from the wide pool of existing character classes in Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, slightly tweaked to better fit the Baldur's Gate style of play. The subclasses are as follows:
Bard - College of Glamour Barbarian - Path of Giants Cleric - Death Domain Druid - Circle of Stars Paladin - Oath of the Crown Fighter - Arcane Archer Monk - Drunken Master Ranger - Swarmkeeper Rogue - Swashbuckler Sorcerer - Shadow Magic Warlock - Hexblade Wizard - BladesingingPersonally, I'm most excited to try an Arcane Archer (a class I don't love in its tabletop iteration) and to see the new animations for the Swarmkeeper Ranger. Patch eight for Baldur's Gate 3 goes live on April 17 on all platforms.
In cooperation with the original development studio of BioWare, Dark Horse today is revealing two new figure statues as part of its ongoing line of characters from the original trilogy. This time, you can finally snag a representation of your lead character from the story, as the two new figures are the male and female default appearances for Commander Shepard.
Each of the two polyvinyl figures stands nine inches in height and features sculpting and paint by Substance Model Works. Jane Shepard appears with the hard-to-beat Carnifex pistol, a favorite of many Mass Effect players. John Shepard carries an M-8 Avenger and his omni-blade. Both figures join a broader cast of character figures that have already been released in the line.
I played through multiple runs at Mass Effect over the years with both the male and female versions of the lead, but I always customized my hero away from the default design. Thankfully, I can maintain the illusion of my personal Shepard, as each of the two new figures comes with swappable N7-helmeted heads; in my mind, it will be my version of the iconic character hiding behind the mask.
The new Commander Shepard figures join the line-up in February of 2026, but you can pre-order Jane or John right now if you want to lock in your purchase. Each figure will run you $69.99.
Check out the gallery below for a close-up look at each of the two figures.
Starward Industries, the studio behind 2023's The Invincible, showed off the first gameplay for its next game during today's Triple-i Interactive stream. Into the Fire puts you in the shoes of a firefighter on the inferno that is Dante's Archipelago, where you have to fight the forces of nature and save as many lives as possible.
Using retro inventions and firefighting equipment, you must combat the deadly volcanic eruption en route to extracting as many lives as possible during a time-pressed survival run. As you explore the deadly terrain, you'll uncover myths, unexplained phenomena, and mysterious relics. You can upgrade your gear, build your base, and even take part in dark rituals as you battle back against the forces of the volcano.
Check out the intense new gameplay below.
SStarward Industries claims that you'll face not only the aftermath of the natural disaster but also deep-seated human beliefs, social conflicts, and even the player-character's inner demons. Players can use weapons that have been modified to fight fires, like a fire-extinguishing shotgun, a fire bomb launcher, and more. Players can expect intricate puzzles, complex moral choices, and varying gameplay styles and classes as they work to save humans and animals from the fiery apocalypse.
Into the Fire launches into Early Access later this year. According to the game's Steam page, Starward Industries aims for a 2026 release for the full game.
After making waves in late 2022, the wildly popular Vampire Survivors has continued adding a ton of new and crossover content to the overall package. Developer Poncle has already added content from the likes of Castlevania, Contra, and Among Us, and now, it has struck a deal with a new publisher to include content from one of its long-running franchises. As a result, starting today, players can brave the undead hordes as characters from Square Enix's SaGa franchise.
Vampire Survivors: Emerald Diorama joins the ever-growing Poncle package today, adding characters from Square Enix's SaGa franchise, in particular, SaGa Emerald Beyond. According to Poncle, the SaGa characters can stand alongside the Vampire Survivors. This free content drop adds more than 40 new attacks, 16 playable characters and skins, and a new stage with seven distinct biomes to explore.
While this announcement is squarely focused on SaGa, the newly forged partnership with Square Enix (and the fact that its deal with Konami led to content from multiple franchises) hopefully leads to more collaborations with the iconic publisher, as its other franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts would also make great additions to the Vampire Survivors roster. The Emerald Dioarama expansion is available now for free on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS (excluding the Apple Arcade version), and Android. To learn more about Vampire Survivors, check out our 9.75 out of 10 review of the 2022 game here.
When it arrived in 2019, Katana Zero quickly became a fan-favorite hack-and-slash indie game. Shortly after its launch, solo developer Justin Stander announced he was working on free downloadable content for the title. However, as the years have progressed, Stander's silence has worried fans about its status. Aside from a few interviews and reassurances from Stander that the DLC is still coming, news for the continuation of Zero's story has been few and far between.
The DLC picks up right where the base story of Katana Zero left off. The narrative continues Zero's story while giving players a new glimpse into his past. The free downloadable content will still be free to all who own the base game and will add new characters, levels, gameplay, and story, with the developer saying the size of the DLC is nearly the size of the original game, promising it will be worth the long wait.
We still don't know when the DLC will arrive, but with its reemergence, hopefully, we'll have a concrete date soon. Katana Zero earned an 83 out of 100 on Metacritic when it arrived in 2019, including a 7.75 out of 10 from Game Informer. You can read our full review here. Katana Zero is currently available on Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android.
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Added missing files for Taunt: The Travel AgentAdded No Hat styles for the Cozy Cover-UpAdded VScript support for HIDEHUD_MATCH_STATUS flag to hide the Match Status panelAdded a borderless window option to video settingsAdded bicubic lightmaps (from Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Update)Added radial fog (from Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Update)Added support for Steam NetworkingMade the default server name for listen servers include the player's nameMade the game launch in native resolution by default instead of 640x480Client-side prediction fixes (these fix 'jank'/rollback in certain situations)Fixed a prediction bug where if the player was moved on the client, their input-based movement for that tick was not taken into account in non-player actionsImproved prediction for walking on props and other entitiesMade certain client-side entities only trigger local prediction errorse.g. If the viewmodel experiences a prediction error, the player will not experience a prediction errorFixed prediction of viewmodel swayFixed a prediction error regarding weapon idle animationsFixed certain breakable props not gibbing correctlyFixed an issue where certain variables like position would not be updated correctly to match the server in certain situationsFixed the player's base velocity (eg. conveyors, moving items etc.) getting subtly out of sync from client/serverFixed players being able to spam duel cancellation messages for a duel that doesn't existFixed not being able to join community servers via Steam invites or game infoFixed lighting position discrepancies for cosmetic items, weapons, and viewmodels (community fix from ficool2)Fixed Equipped label overlapping attribute icons in the loadout menu (community fix from Lindon)Fixed an issue with props and team colors when taunting with Australium weaponsFixed the Voices from Below effect not working when taunting with the Highland Hound set equippedFixed player voice commands being abruptly ended when the player enters shallow waterFixed incorrect number on the Geneva Contravention achievement iconFixed the Military Style for The Surgeon General to stay properly semi-visible at all anglesFixed some classes missing the BLU team material for That '70s ChapeauFixed the Spanish-Latin America option being displayed as English in the Settings menuFixed the MOTD dialog not working for Spanish-Latin AmericaUpdated attribute descriptions for The Scottish Resistance and the Stickybomb Jumper to use 'stickybomb' instead of 'pipebomb'Updated equip_region settings for The Little Bear, The Heavy-Weight Champ, The Grand Duchess Tutu, and the Combat Slacks to fix unnecessary conflictsUpdated the Spooky Night and Ominous Night Unusual taunt effects to fix a visual bug (Thanks Kiffy!)Updated koth_overcast_final to improve optimizationUpdated ctf_applejackAdded block bullets to some storesUnblocked a window at mid, allowing Snipers to shot across the middle hutRemoved the missing texture in BLU spawnGave a chicken a friend, because friendship is magicUpdated cp_fortezzaNew radio model for spawn roomsChanged sentry shack ammo pack on last to a mediumAdjusted health pickups throughout the mapChanged kill volume on cap A double doors to be more consistent with visualsImproved bot support (Thanks Star Bright)Detail passUpdated pl_patagonia[Stage 1]Fixed some RED bots stuck forever trying to make an impossible jump on the stairs outside spawnFixed the cart not capping the first point on extremely rare occasions[Stage 2]Improved optimizationFixed a nodraw floor near the first BLU spawn train bridge waterfallFixed 3D skybox looking pitch black for players using mat_hdr_level 2[Stage 3]Improved optimizationFixed wrap assassin baubles colliding with a solid func_brush bounding box outside BLU spawnRemoved the platform above the open choke of the last pointAdded an additional path to the window overlooking the open choke of the last pointFixed RED bots getting stuck on a solid fence outside the RED spawnFixed 3D skybox looking pitch black for players using mat_hdr_level 2
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An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Fixed the Battle Balaclava's "No Gloves" style hiding the Heavy's handsFixed broken materials for The Westcoat's "Ugly" styleAdded smoke effect to The Checkered PastUpdate the Buck's Brim's "Bad" styleFixed broken materialsAdded smoke effectUpdated cp_fortezzaDetail improvementsImproved clippingUpdated koth_cachoeiraFixed players being able to get stuck in certain displacementsVarious clipping improvements throughout the mapVarious miscellaneous fixes (Thanks Midnite!) Improved bot navigation (Thanks Katsu!)
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Updated the Brain Cane to fix problems with the texture and phong valueUpdated The Battle MusicAdded missing Hat styleFixed the models due to clipping on Heavy's ears and misalignment on EngineerImproved and strengthen the Noise CancellationUpdated the materials to fix it not being shinyUpdated the backpack icon to reflect the materials changeUpdated cp_gravelpit_snowyFixed potential incompatibility with external VScript files (thanks Le Codex!)Re-implemented cubemap reflections in ice caveFixed perch spotsUpdated vsh_distillery, vsh_maul, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrockRestored Hale's resistance to knockback back to 75%Reduced bonus flame damage against Hale from 50% to 25%Hale can now do 1 extra Brave Jump before the Jump Fatigue kicks in (thanks Wendy)Weighdown is no longer blocked by the Jump Fatigue (thanks Wendy)Removed area-of-effect of Hale's normal punches (thanks Wendy)Demoman shields now absorb 70% of Saxton Punch! damage (compared to normal 50%) to make the following launch into the stratosphere survivableFixed Hale taking mini-crits from Direct Hit and Reserve Shooter while underwater (thanks Bradasparky)Fixed airborne mini-crits of Direct Hit and Reserve Shooter applying against the wielder (thanks Bradasparky)Fixed Hale being able to stomp while underwater (thanks Bradasparky)Fixed Sweeping Charge not working against underwater opponentsFixed the bug that prevented Quick-Fix from mirroring a patient's wall climbing (thanks Bradasparky)Fixed Hale's faulty ground detection (thanks Bradasparky)Fixed Baby Face's Blaster's loss of boost not applying correctly (thanks Whurr and MilkMaster72)Fixed the voice lines refusing to play sometimesUpdated pl_patagoniaStage 1Fixed the cart going under the elevator in extremely rare occasions (Thanks Shocked) Fixed sometimes hearing outside soundscapes inside blue spawnFixed being able to build in a very high rooftop after point AFixed being able to build in blue spawnCart elevator is no longer the glitchiest thing in the universeFixed cart not rolling back after completing the elevator descent sequenceNow, if the cart is rolling into the elevator in overtime, the round timer will be set to 5 seconds left, to avoid unfair loses for blue. Timer will resume once the cart reaches the bottom (Thanks I. C. Wiener).Stage 2Removed rollback from the train container ramp in last point (Thanks b4nny)Gave blue more high ground for last pointAdded an additional dropdown for blue for last pointFixed being able to be teleported into red spawn as blue after capping point ARemoved long hill rollback before point CFixed bots getting stuck on the closed train doors after cap BFixed being able to leave stickies inside blue last spawnFixed being able to get stuck in the point C shortcut door for red. If you get trapped, it will kill you.Fixed a pop-in issue relating to areaportals below point BFixed being able to enter the last blue spawn as redBirdie (Thanks Explocivo808)Stage 3Added a fenced section for the long wood cover wall in last point (Thanks b4nny)Mirrored the window sniper spot in last point chokeFixed being able to build behind a displacement rock wall in last pointRemoved troll teleport spot in last point ending rampAll StagesSlightly lowered sun brightness and slightly raised skylight brightnessImproved skybox transitionsThe cart no longer tries to defy the law of physicsNinjaneers have more freedom to be ninjasThe bots have learned how to play the mapGave the cart another coronación de gloria
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Updated the Dapper Noel to fix an issue with the meshUpdated vsh_maulFixed broken areaportalsChanged some props in the upper area that could be mistaken for a large ammo pack
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Added missing No Gloves style for the Consigliere's CoverupAdded missing Versus Saxton Hale kill iconsAdded some tournament medalsFixed Taunt: Curtain Call voice lines overlapping with other Spy voice linesFixed the Playful Aurora and Frisky Morning Unusual effects not moving correctlyUpdated Aurora Skies Unusual effect to fix a timing issueUpdated the Necroprancer to fix an issue with the materialsUpdated the Dusk Duster to fix an issue with the materialsUpdated the Dapper NoelRemade normal map to be compatible with OpenGLRe-baked Diffuse & updated backpack icon to reflect above changesRemoved misplaced ambient occlusionFixed problematic face flexesFixed an issue where Engineer's beard was protruding from his gogglesFixed an issue with the jigglebones being disabledRigged Sniper's hat to be compatible with his melee tauntUpdated Scrooge McDocTransparent lenses are rigged to the correct bone (prp_glasses instead of bip_head) so it should now work correctly with taunts that move the glassesImproved scarf rigging and positioning to allow for better compatibility with shirt cosmeticsUpdated the backpack iconUpdated koth_overcast_finalFixed an issue with the models/materialsAdded back snow coverings (now using displacements) to some props that were missing themFixed misaligned textures in various placesFixed weird lighting bug on a wall in blue spawnFixed 'Hotel' sign not displaying properlyAdded back indicators under some health and ammo kits that were missing themUpdated cp_fortezzaRemoved sniper window leading into lastFixed Engineer being able to build in some doorsFixed some props being solidSlight art pass updateUpdated vsh_maulPlayers can no longer hide from Saxton in the darkFixed props inside other propsFixed z-fighting brushesFixed missing particle effects for the water featureFixed orientation of water feature particlesMinor lighting changes around the cinemaAdjusted LOD change distances for Cinema signUpdated VSH logicGrounded levitating propsAligned misaligned texturesFixed mis-textured wallsClipped upper metal beamsFixed clip brushes sticking out from walls that could be walked onPlayers will now be pushed off of the fire bellAdjusted cinema sign shadowUsed spell check on Saxton's Package signUpdated how music is activated and deactivatedFixed clipping on the hanging big ornaments
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Happy Smissmas 2024!All players who play TF2 during the event will receive a Stuffed Stocking as a gift! Stockings contain goodies for good little Mercenaries.Featuring 6 new community maps: Overcast, Fortezza, Penguin Peak, Patagonia, Cutter, and MaulAdded the Winter 2024 Cosmetic CaseContains 23 new community-contributed itemsThe Festivizer can be found as a bonus drop when opening the caseAdded 3 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. StoreTaunt: Fore-Head SliceTaunt: Peace!Taunt: Curtain CallAdded 18 new community-created Unusual effects9 new effects for Unusual hats9 new effects for Unusual tauntsAll cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Smissmas 2024 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include crates.Mann Co. Store winter sale!Smissmas runs through January 7th, 2025GeneralFixed a client crash when previewing imported items in the Workshop dialogFixed showing an error model when equipping the Scottish ResistanceFixed The Executioner not hiding the Scout's dog tagsUpdated the Mountebank's Masque to fix a problem with the materialsUpdated/Added some tournament medalsUpdated vsh_distillery, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrockGeneralAdded the gamemode intro movie (made by Lacry, thanks)Improved the delivery of VSH-related voice lines for Soldier, Engineer and SniperUpdated some VSH-related voice lines for Saxton, Soldier, Engineer and Sniper (thanks The Rat Man)Added Hale's kill iconsVisual improvements to Hale's Ability HUD (thanks Funicular)Added a visual cue signaling an upcoming Saxton Punch!Minor visual improvements to Saxton Hale and his particle effectsFixed the boss bar sometimes starting invisibleFixed a rare crash caused by seeing blood decals on Hale while playing on low graphics quality settingsFixed a rare bug when Hale's Ability HUD textures become missingBalance Changes - Saxton HaleAdded Brave Jump Fatigue. Each consecutive jump will be less powerful, requiring a short break to restore to full strengthWeightdown ability is disabled during Jump FatigueIncreased Hale's health by ~100HP per opponentAdjusted Hale's health formula against 24+ opponents - Hale now gains 2000HP for every opponent past 23 (thanks Megascatterbomb)Hale's resistance to knockback reduced from 75% to 35%Head Stomp damage now scales with Hale's downward speed, dealing between 64 and 193 damage (previously dealt flat 195 damage)Balance Changes - MercenariesExplosives and fire now deal 50% more damage against HaleThe 40% minigun damage penalty now applies to full crits onlyBroken Demoman shields now retain the charge abilityDemoman shields now absorb only 50% of the incoming damage upon breaking (a would-be-lethal blow will leave the Demo at 1HP)Greatly decreased sticky trap damage reductionRemoved Scottish Resistance's 20% damage penaltyBaby Face's Blaster now loses 20% of its boost upon Wall ClimbingUpdated vsh_tinyrock (additional changes)Improved performanceFixed odd clipping at one of the spawnsUpdated vsh_distillery (additional changes)Improved performanceUpdated vsh_nucleus (additional changes)Fixed setup time ending five seconds too earlyImproved detailing in some areasImproved clipping on staircasesIncreased control point capture time to 15 secondsRemoved collision on some lightsChanged damage model and damage amount of the toxic waste pit and puddlesUpdated vsh_skirmish (additional changes)Fixed setup time ending five seconds too earlyFixed an issue where Engineers could build in the crocodile pitFixed not being able to wall climb certain trees in the main arenaFixed some lighting issues on stalactites and other propsParts of Hale's intro sequence no longer play while waiting for playersImproved optimization and detailing in some areasImproved clipping on spiral stairs (Thanks Aar!)Updated security systemUpdated cp_brewThe shortcut from RED spawn to the "A" point now has a nobuild trigger Added floor indicator for the health kit in the "A" point wooden shackAdjusted "A" point wooden shack to allow more breathing roomFixed getting stuck on the "A" gate's frameFixed teletrap near "A" point ditch routeFixed being able to place buildings inside an out-of-bounds room outside "A" pointFixed some stuck spots near "B" pointFixed being able to shoot through a crack in the BLU forward spawnFixed floating props in the dinerFixed one way door not forcing itself closedCleaned up some collisions and clipping across the mapImproved lighting on all of the archwaysUpdated koth_krampusFixed missing trees in skyboxImproved look of waterfall texture near full health-kitFixed minor visual errorsMinor NPC clipping changesFed krampus some oatsUpdated pl_emergeSwitched on the cart lightFixed RED players being able to sit on the edge of an exit of BLU's starting spawnFixed some doors showing incorrect texturesFixed the final capture point displaying an incorrect stringFixed the map occasionally playing incorrect ambient soundsMinor visual and performance tweaksUpdated cp_carrierThe Carrier now has full crits rather than mini-critsThe Carrier now uses the robot voice linesImproved hearability of the Carrier's voice lines and footstepsFixed visual bugs with the boss barFixed the Carrier sometimes becoming invisible while tauntingFixed animation glitches when a Demoman Carrier holds a Stickybomb LauncherFixed occasional phasing through the elevator platform at BLU spawnDecreased size of the frog
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Improved matchmaking performanceImproved matchmaker behavior for users with less-than-ideal ping levels. The matchmaker should now be quicker to put you in the best available region.Improved matchmaker decision making for cross-region partiesAdded error messages when being ejected from the matchmaking queue due to connectivity or authentication failures, rather than the queue simply silently vanishingFixed the matchmaking settings dialog frequently failing to display any datacentersFixed multiple cases of in-progress casual matches abruptly terminating or failing to be assigned any new players if the game server ever loses connection to SteamUpdated the Mountebank's Masque, Courtier's Collar, and Harlequin's Hooves cosmetic items to fix issues with their paint regionsUpdated cp_gravelpit_snowyFixed a script issueImproved performanceImproved clipping
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Fixed the Guano and Batbelt cosmetic items hiding the Scout's dog tagsFixed The Beacon from Beyond incorrectly hiding a bunch of bodygroupsFixed the Quoth cosmetic item hiding the Scout's headphonesFixed some broken materials for some props_farm gib modelsAdding "Hat" style for the Fuel InjectorUpdated the Clue Hairdo to fix broken smoke effectUpdated koth_synthetic_eventEdited nav mesh to minimize the Toastmaster running diving into the grinder/death pitUpdated pd_farmageddonRevoked scarecrow gym membership which lowered their health from 500 to 350Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woodsFixed an exploit allowing some players to respawn as a human or play as a human on the Zombie team
An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include:Reverted BLU Scout pants fix because it conflicts with too many existing cosmeticsUpdated the Fleet Commander again to fix import problems from the previous updateUpdated the Phantom Plague and Haunting Haze Unusual effects to fix sometimes spawning away from the playerUpdated cp_freaky_fairFixed issues related to the gamemode logicReapplied check that was mistakenly removed to check if the player is actively buying upgrades in a station or notImplemented new custom system to refund upgrades to hopefully address inconsistencies both in-round and across roundsImplemented logic to handle mismatches in recorded vs actual currency values when leaving the upgrade trigger and having not accepted de-bought upgradesReverted code to do with Ghosts and Sentry busters to fix bugs related to their effects not de-applyingImplemented a way to force kill players to address edge cases where you could survive as the sentry buster past their explosion (Thanks MilkMaster!)Improved the logic which checks if you can apply a new potion effect to yourself to address bugs where effects can overlapFixed sniper and demo shields not having their upgrades clearedFixed canteens not having their values cleared when refunding whilst not equippedIncreased the height of the skyboxIncreased last point capture time from 6s to 7sChanged some clipping to stop giants from building on roofsSmoothed out a divot (Thanks Midnite!)Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woodsGeneralRe-encoded all Zombie Infection sound effects as .WAVThis fixes issues with sound effects not playing correctly and spewing errors in the consoleBug fixesFixed a bug that caused Sniper's Spit Pool to deal much more damage than intendedFixed a bug that caused team names to not display correctly when playing on mp_tournament modeFixed a bug where Engineer would sometimes scream like a charging Demoman while throwing an EMP GrenadeZombie ChangesSniper's Spit Pool damage vs Survivors no longer stacks when standing in multiple zonesZombie Heavy is no longer immune to Critical HitsZombie Heavy's max health raised to 525 (from 450)Zombie Pyro's max health raised to 250 (from 175)Zombie Pyro now drops a medium health kit on deathSurvivor ChangesCrossbow weapons no longer have a flat damage multiplier against ZombiesThe B.A.S.E Jumper can no longer be deployed if you are one of the last three survivorsJumper Weapons can no longer store reserve ammunitionUpdated zi_murky (additional changes)Added more respawn room triggers around the new spawn zones