In a move that will likely send a few shockwaves through the comparatively crummy free-to-play online shooter market, Team Fortress 2, Valve's hilariously goofy and still-popular online-multiplayer-focused shooter, is officially free on Steam from here on out.

The announcement initially came as part of a Develop interview with TF2 project lead Robin Walker, and was later confirmed via press release late last night.

The free-to-play announcement comes as part of the massive "Über Update," which Valve describes as the biggest content update the game has received since the game's launch in 2007.

The only form of montetization TF2 will employ from now until eternity is via microtransactions. Players can purchase items from the game's store, but beyond that, the game is free, free, free.

How does all this rub you, the current, or prospective TF2 player? Free-to-play often has a bit of a filthy connotation to it, but given that this is Valve, and that TF2 is already a known quantity (an awesome known quantity, at that), it's hard to see how this could be anything but a good thing for the growth of the TF2 community at this stage of the game's lifespan.

I mean, I already own the Orange Box version of TF2 on Xbox 360, and I'm currently downloading the Steam version as we speak. Because seriously, why the hell not, right?

In a move that will likely send a few shockwaves through the comparatively crummy free-to-play online shooter market, Team Fortress 2, Valve's hilariously goofy and still-popular online-multiplayer-focused shooter, is officially free on Steam from here on out.

The announcement initially came as part of a Develop interview with TF2 project lead Robin Walker, and was later confirmed via press release late last night.

The free-to-play announcement comes as part of the massive "Über Update," which Valve describes as the biggest content update the game has received since the game's launch in 2007.

The only form of montetization TF2 will employ from now until eternity is via microtransactions. Players can purchase items from the game's store, but beyond that, the game is free, free, free.

How does all this rub you, the current, or prospective TF2 player? Free-to-play often has a bit of a filthy connotation to it, but given that this is Valve, and that TF2 is already a known quantity (an awesome known quantity, at that), it's hard to see how this could be anything but a good thing for the growth of the TF2 community at this stage of the game's lifespan.

I mean, I already own the Orange Box version of TF2 on Xbox 360, and I'm currently downloading the Steam version as we speak. Because seriously, why the hell not, right?

Time to get it

Great news, glad to have an influx of new players

What do you mean Orange Box version? Do you mean console version? Last I checked my Orange Box version IS the Steam version.

Ban these motherfuckers with their "first" bullshit. Please. Other than that - this is great news, and a smart way to breathe some new life into a 4 year old game.

It's an amazing game, been playing since 2007.
Only thing is that can I hope for is that VALVe can truly keep the hackers out.

Who called it? I Did!

And so did everyone else. But I wrote it in a article.

Great. Also you guys need to post up Meet the Medic, it's the best video yet.

It also sounds like Valve is fully aware of the dangers of F2P (item farming, hacker circumvention) are going to be keeping an eye on things. Things were a bit rough on the servers last night and a lot of new people had trouble figuring out how to do things like "shoot sentries" and "spy check" (and a few of the new items are going to get their usual post-update nerf in a week or so), but those are the usual new update bumps in the road.

@groin said:

first

people need to learn, USING the word first negates the quest....

Man I wish my laptop had more memory so I could download it right now!

@johnnysasaki: I already have the quest.

Next summer sale, valve actually gives you 5 bucks if you buy tf2  :p

If you buy anything from the in-game store, or had purchased the game before you'll have a premium account.
You get more item slots, the ability to give items in trades (free accounts can only receive items) and better item drops and blueprints.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLYYYYYYYYYYY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 

@ds8k: Orange Box version of TF2 on Xbox 360

I have no issue with this shift since the core game remains the same. Any weapons and cosmetic items you can buy in the mann co store you can get either by the game dropping it or by crafting. 
 
The only ppl complaining are those who already hate the mann co store, hats, and this weird sub set who feel betrayed and demand their 10 dollars back...for some reason.

TF2 TNT please ^___^

Team fortress 2 runs on toaster  if you cant fucking run this game on your PC then you are one sad person. 
 
My fucking intel Atom CPU machines can run all  source engine games they fucking came out in 2004 and they run all games with the unreal 3 engine since it also runs on a toster at this point.

I'd download the Steam version, but it's about 7000 MB. What the shit? I thought that game sizes kinda peaked during the PS1 era. Even Final Fantasy VII, a game spread across three or four discs, is only 1.5 GB. Does anybody know how to uninstall a Steam game without deleting it from your library? I want to remember that this game is free.

TF2 TNT please ^___^

I think this is pretty cool, in fact, it's possibly the best free game ever seen as it has so many free updates. I've never bought anything from the Mann Co. shop and still racked up 60+ hours on this game. 
 
It would be nice if the already paid members got some sort of medal, or a hat, or a medal for a hat?

Team fortress 2 runs on toaster  if you cant fucking run this game on your PC then you are one sad person.

@CrazyNinja said:

@Sweep said:

TF2 TNT please ^___^

I'm pretty sure they had one recently, but I wouldn't be that surprised if they did.

yeah there have been a few, but seeing as the new update just introduced a load of new levels and gear, as well as the free-to-play aspect making the game available to a whole new group of players, now would be a great time to run a community event :D

TF2 is easily the most fair F2P game ever. Hope it works out for Valve.

The best multiplayer game is now free.

When any game features a multiplayer mode, I usually think to myself, "Yeah, that seems okay I guess, but I'd rather play TF2."

Now all of those games are competing with the idea, "Yeah, it's okay, but I could pay nothing and get a better game."

Nice one Valve.

I think this is pretty cool, in fact, it's possibly the best free game ever seen as it has so many free updates. I've never bought anything from the Mann Co. shop and still racked up 60+ hours on this game.  It would be nice if the already paid members got some sort of medal, or a hat, or a medal for a hat?

Considering how focused this game is on microtransactions I am surprised it took this long.

I'm a little put off. I'm really hoping that this doesn't completely ruin one of the best game communities I've ever been witness to. I could definitely see it going DotA-style with everyone being super angry about new people being garbage.

@Cubical said:

Team fortress 2 runs on toaster if you cant fucking run this game on your PC then you are one sad person. My fucking intel Atom CPU machines can run all source engine games they fucking came out in 2004 and they run all games with the unreal 3 engine since it also runs on a toster at this point.

That's really not true at all. It may have been true when the game first launched, but after 218 updates this game is incredibly CPU intensive at this point.

@MysteriousBob said:

@ShadowVirus said:

I think this is pretty cool, in fact, it's possibly the best free game ever seen as it has so many free updates. I've never bought anything from the Mann Co. shop and still racked up 60+ hours on this game. It would be nice if the already paid members got some sort of medal, or a hat, or a medal for a hat?

They'll already have those 'Veteran' medals. I've got my 2007 one.

This just made me look at my 770 hours of TF2 and laugh. 60+ hours indeed ...

@Video_Game_King: It says it's 7 gigabytes, but when you download it and it pulls down all the updates too, you're looking at 11 or 12 GB instead. If game sizes had peaked during the PS1 era, modern consoles wouldn't even use 8 gig DVDs, much less 25 to 50 gig Blu-ray discs.

I love how people get so upset about someone posting "first". Did it ruin the article for you? Oh, here's a tissue, now blow.

queue the "I want a refund" bitching

I'd download the Steam version, but it's about 7000 MB. What the shit? I thought that game sizes kinda peaked during the PS1 era. Even Final Fantasy VII, a game spread across three or four discs, is only 1.5 GB. Does anybody know how to uninstall a Steam game without deleting it from your library? I want to remember that this game is free.

@MysteriousBob said:

@Cubical said:

Team fortress 2 runs on toaster if you cant fucking run this game on your PC then you are one sad person.

Fuck you.

The pure anger in this response made me laugh.

The Steam version of TF2 is so much better than the Orange Box version, it's unbelievable. Play that, keep your Orange Box out of the light.

So this will be the first PC game i'll play since Call of Duty 4

@Sweep said:

TF2 TNT please ^___^

Yes!! There's no new multiplayer games coming out next week so it makes perfect sense.

Giantbomb official server in Europe maybe ?

I like to see Call of Duty try this.

What do you mean Orange Box version? Do you mean console version? Last I checked my Orange Box version IS the Steam version.

Well time for me to start playing TF2. I have no idea what I'm doing. Noob invasion!

I own the 360 Orange Box collection, but haven't played a whole lot of TF2. I know at least a few people who are obsessive fans of the game on PC, though, so hey -- this is as good an excuse as any to give it a proper go.

damn, i bought it for 10 bucks like 2 weeks ago

Only time I played TF2 was on The Orange Box on PS3 and the less said about that the better. 
 
Might have to check out the PC version now,  though.

First Champions Online and now TF2! What's with all the games I already paid real pennies for going free to play! 
 
RAGE! 
 
Oh wells, good for the rest of the world.

@EyeQueue: There's an achievement for that here :p so there's an actual reason to post "first" in comments