While PC gamers have enjoyed frequent and free game-expanding updates to Team Fortress 2, including new modes and maps, console players of the class-based multiplayer shooter haven't been as fortunate.

That will change later this year when developer Valve releases a comprehensive collection of the updates as downloadable content for the Xbox 360 version, marketing VP Doug Lombardi informed Kotaku.

Though the updates were free on PC, Valve affirmed it is being forced to charge for the Xbox 360 release, which is why the studio waited until it had an abundance of content.

Pricing has yet to be determined, though Lombardi explained that the company is hoping to sell the content for as low as it can, ideally around $10. In keeping with his earlier comments, the executive was unsure if the pack will hit PlayStation 3.

Included in the collection are two new modes--Payload and Arena--along with new weapons for the Heavy, Pyro and Medic classes and a number of new maps.

Though Valve has hoped to release Team Fortress 2 add-on content as a free download for console users, company co-founder Gabe Newell now says that the console business model is getting in the way.

"The big concern I have right now is our ability to provide updates," said Newell to videogaming247. "On the PC side, we've done as many as four updates in a day, and that's great: we can respond very quickly."

Newell continued:

If Nvidia puts out a new graphics driver and it changes some way about how texture management works, then before our customers know there's any issue then the problem has gone away. Or we can do the Pyro updates, and the Medic updates [and so on].

On the consoles, they want us to charge money for them... Read more

The much-anticipated Heavy update is now available for Team Fortress 2, bringing a wealth of new content to the PC version of Valve's class-based multiplayer shooter.

Automatically downloaded upon logging into Steam, the update packs the new Arena mode, the Badwater Basin Payload map, community member Jamie Mason's CP_Steel along an assortment of achievements for the Heavy class and three unlockable item: Natscha, the Killing Gloves of Boxing and the healing Sandvich.

In addition to the update, Valve delivered a new entry in its "Meet The" series, offering viewers a humorous introduction to the Sanvich.

The specific changes include:... Read more

The last remaining unlockable weapon for Team Fortress 2's Heavy class has been revealed as the Sandvich, set to arrive as part of the update hitting PCs later today. The delectable tool was also detailed in a new "Meet the..." vignette.

According to details posted on the Heavy update site, the Sandvich—which replaces the Heavy's shotgun—is unlimited in quantity and heals 120 health for the Heavy per use. During the four seconds required for the Heavy to eat the Sandvich, the brute is completely vulnerable, drawing enemies with the loud sounds of vigorous chewing.

The unlockable was hinted at in the Heavy's class-specific achievements, which were unveiled last week. Among them is the achievement "Konspicuous Konsumption," which requires players to eat 100 Sandviches.

The Sandvich marks the final piece of content in Valve's expansive Heavy update, joining the other two new unlockables Nastacha and the K.G.B. The Heavy update will also bring Arena mode, the new Payload map Badwater Basin and a new community-created map when it becomes available later this afternoon.

Valve has released the latest video in its series of Team Fortress 2 "Meet the..." vignettes, this time introducing us to the newest addition to the Heavy's arsenal, the Sandvich.

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Update: The Heavy update is now available, with Valve issuing details and a new vignette on the third unlockable weapon, the Sandvich.

Original Story: New details on Team Fortress 2's Arena mode have been unveiled, shedding light on the multiplayer shooter's newest gametype set to arrive with tomorrow's release of the Heavy class update.

According to the update's website, the gametype "keeps the class diversity of Team Fortress 2 while focusing goals around combat between two teams." Rounds are won by eliminating every member of an opposing team, or securing a map's central capture point, which becomes unlocked after 60 seconds of play.

The gametype's debut is accompanied by five Arena-specific maps, including Lumberyard and Ravine, two maps built specifically for the mode. Moreover, three previously available TF2 maps—Well, Granary, and Badlands—have been remade to suit the mode's play style.

Arena rounds on these smaller maps feature shorter time limits, and are said to work well in both smaller, three-on-three skirmishes as well as full-scale... Read more

Continuing its series of daily revelations, Team Fortress 2 developer Valve today updated its site with details on the Heavy's second unlockable weapon, Natascha.

A level 5 minigun, Natascha does 25% less damage to targets, but is guaranteed to slow them down. Like the Killing Gloves of Boxing and the other unknown unlockable, Natascha will become available as players earn the Heavy's new achievements.

The free update, due on PC next Tuesday, brings a new gameplay mode, new arenas, new maps and class-specific Heavy achievements to the multiplayer shooter.

The second unlockable for the Heavy, Natascha allows the Heavy to slow enemies with her bullets. Enemies taking damage from her will find themselves moving slower for an instant, encouraging them to find cover or deal with the Heavy. Unfortunately, her firepower is somewhat weaker than that of Sasha, so the Heavy will find it takes longer to finish them off. As a result, Natascha's great to use against those that want to get away, like Scouts & Medics, and not so great against those trying to kill you. Heavies that like to jump around corners to surprise groups of enemies will also find it very useful, although it's best to make sure there isn't a Sasha-wielding Heavy there.

The full achievements list has also been released, viewable below:... Read more

Valve Software today revealed the latest piece of Team Fortress 2 content bound for next week's Heavy class update as Badwater Basin, a new arena for the game's Payload gametype. Screenshots were also provided.

According to the update webpage, Badwater Basin focuses on more open spaces and features less chokepoints than previous Payload map Gold Rush, which came as part of the Medic update earlier this year.

Badwater Basin will arrive as part of the largest Team Fortress 2 PC update yet, set to debut next Tuesday with a new gametype, seven maps, and three weapons for the Heavy class. The first new Heavy weapon, the Killing Gloves of Boxing or K.G.B., was unveiled yesterday alongside a set of 35 class-specific achievements.

An update on Valve Software's Team Fortress 2 blog has unveiled more of the content planned for the Heavy update, scheduled to hit the multiplayer shooter next Tuesday.

The first of three unlockable weapons planned for the Heavy are Killing Gloves of Boxing (or K.G.B.), which replace the Heavy's bare fists as his melee attack. When landing a killing blow with the K.G.B., the Heavy receives five full seconds of guaranteed critical hits, which can be used to kill more foes and further extend the remaining time.

The crit bonus can also be used with the Heavy's other weapons—the shotgun and the minigun—allowing the class to lay waste to enemies at a distance. The gloves offer a slower swing speed than the Heavy's uncovered fists, making use of the item somewhat riskier than the standard equipment roll-out.

Along with two yet-unannounced unlockable weapons, the K.G.B. will be obtainable via a total of 35 class-specific achievements. The Heavy's new weaponry will likely see a similar structure as the previously released Pyro update, which granted unlockable weapons at 10, 16, and 22 earned achievements.

While the requirements for the achievements have not yet been specified, their names and iconography—paired with the image file names—offer a few clues as... Read more

Update: Valve has released new details on the Heavy's first unlockable weapon, the K.G.B. (Killing Gloves of Boxing), as well as information on the Heavy's 35 new class-specific achievements.

Original Story: The largest update yet to Valve's online shooter Team Fortress 2 is set to go live next Tuesday, August 19, according to the developer.

The update will include seven fresh maps and a new game mode, in addition to new unlockable weapons and achievements for the Heavy class.

Valve plans to reveal each element of the patch--as well as a "special installment" to the "Meet the Team" video series--in a series of daily updates to its website.

The first announced map was revealed to be community-created level cp_steel (pictured above). Described as a "complex Attack/Defense control point map" by Valve, the arena was created by Jamie "Fishbus" Manson, and marks the first of six website reveals.

The mysteriously unannounced game mode will come supported with five Valve-crafted maps. A "new Payload map focusing on more open spaces than Goldrush" will also be released, according to Valve's Robin Walker.

Team Fortress 2 followers may remember a "leaked" image (left) that recently convinced many fans that the Spy update was on its way from developer Valve. The screen was soon revealed to be a fake, the words "Hoax by Kaanin" found in small print at the bottom.

Now a new post on the official TF2 blog reveals that even some Valve employees were deceived by the image.

"His mocked-up image was convincing enough that even some of us at Valve were momentarily fooled," said Valve's Eric Smith. "Well played, Kaanin."

Another patch for the PC version of Valve's Team Fortress 2 is now available, addressing numerous bugs and glitches in the class-based online multiplayer shooter.

The patch will be downloaded and automatically installed upon restarting the Steam client. Changes include:

• Fixed rcon crash caused by too many incorrect password attempts
• Fixed clients experiencing connection problems during round restarts
• Fixed flares not always being removed on impact
• Fixed 32 player servers not working correctly with SourceTV enabled
• Fixed dropped flags sometimes falling through the world... Read more

The third of Team Fortress 2's nine classes to receive class-specific achievements and unlockable weapons will be the Heavy, developer Valve has revealed.

One of the goals of the upcoming update will be to "make the Heavy more viable when he has no Medic to pair with," TF2 director Robin Walker wrote on the game's blog. However, he noted the key challenge is to enhance the Heavy without changing its role relative to the other classes, especially in the fabled Heavy-Medic combo.

Other variables to consider include the tactical pros and cons of the lumbering giant, such as the Heavy's limited mobility while firing and the minigun's spin-up time.

Class-specific achievements and unlockable weapons first hit the Medic class in April, followed by the Pyro class update in mid-June. The company plans to ... Read more

A new patch for the PC version of Valve's Team Fortress 2 has been released, addressing issues arising out of the recent Pyro Update and numerous other woes.

The patch will be downloaded and automatically installed upon restarting the Steam client. Changes include:

• Fixed backburner's flame critical hits not being recalculated after collision. This meant that it would check if the target was looking away once and after that the flame could score a critical hit again even if the orientation changed
• Added back some damage falloff to the Pyro's flamethrower. Not nearly as extreme as it was before the Pyro class pack
• Fixed bug that caused Demomen to take a small amount of extra damage from their own grenades and fly farther using them... Read more

A new patch is now available for the PC version of Team Fortress 2. The update offers four changes, including one which reduces the Medic's unlockable requirements. Changes are as follows:

• Reduced Medic's unlockable requirements to match that of the Pyro's. Medic players now meeting the requirements will receive their unlockables shortly after joining a server
• Fixed Spy sapper viewmodel animation popping
• Fixed another issue with the Hot on your Heels achievement
• Incorporated the new Russian fonts into the base Team Fortress 2 fonts. Fixes the missing fonts problem when running in Russian with English VO

As previously announced, Valve's Team Fortress 2 free weekend is now live, offering free play to those gamers who haven't yet purchased the game through Sunday evening.

The free weekend follows this week's debut of the Pyro class update, which offers three new weapons unlockable via 36 Pyro-specific achievements. The update also includes two community-created maps—including Shacker -sk-'s CP_Fastlane—and a new alternate function for the Pyro's stock flamethrower.

Players interested in taking part need only download the game through a Steam client, with full instructions available at the free trial website.

As promised, developer Valve has just released the free Pryo update for the PC version of its class-based mutiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2.

In addition to 35 new achievements and 3 unlockable weapons for the Pyro class, the update packs two new community maps--CP_Fastlane from Shacker Arttu "-sk-" Maki and CTF_Turbine from Bill Johnston--and the option for Pyros to blast out compressed air with the stock flamethrower.

Unlike the previous Medic update, which required players to get all the achievements to get all the new weapons, Pyros gain the Flare Gun after 10 achievements, unlock the Backburner at the 16 achievement mark, and earn the Axtinguisher with only 22.

Per the norm for Steam updates, the patch will be automatically downloaded once Steam is restarted. While you're waiting, why not reacquaint yourself with the Sniper?

Keep reading for more details, including full patch notes... Read more

The full details of Valve's next Team Fortress 2 update have leaked in advance of their official release, revealing the achievements, unlockables and changes to the Pyro along with the two included community maps, all of which are due this Thursday, June 19.

Along with the previously revealed Axtinguisher, Pyro players will be awarded with the Flare Gun and Backburner for obtaining the 35 new achievements. As with the Medic update, weapons will be unlocked as Achievements are earned, with the Flare Gun coming first, the Backburner second, and the Axtinguisher last.

In addition, the Pyro's stock flamethrower will be updated with a new function, allowing players to blast enemies away with compressed air through a press of the alt-fire button.

Detailing the two community-created maps included with the update... Read more

Update: All the details on the Pyro class changes, including achievement and new weapons, are now available.

Original Story: The full details on Thursday's Team Fortress 2 update may not arrive until tomorrow, but a complete list of the 35 new Pyro-specific achievements has leaked along with their respective illustrations.

The images provide another look at the that blunderbuss and flare gun-esque unlockable weapon glimpsed in today's Meet the Sniper vignette.

While the exact requirements of the achievements remain unknown, the often amusing names give some hint as to their conditions. Our favorites include Dance Dance Immolation, OMGWTFBBQ, and Weenie Roast. You can see them all compiled by Jimbomcb or browse on through.

The complete achievement list can be found below... Read more

Update: The official details on the new weapons have arrived, revealing the device pictured below to be the Flare Gun, which can ignite an enemy at long range.

Original Story: Though the official details aren't slated to arrive until tomorrow, the latest Team Fortress 2 character vignette contains a brief glimpse of Pyro's second unlockable weapon.

The device, which appears to be a blunderbuss, joins the Axtinguisher as one of the three unlockable weapons for the fire-happy Pyro class.

As with the recent Medic update, the weapons will be available to players once they earn a set number of class-specific achievements.

The free Pyro update will be available on Thursday, with full details hitting tomorrow. Registered users can use the HD Stream.