Team Fortress 2 engine branch
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This article or section needs to be updated to include current information regarding the subject because:
All first party
games run on this branch now. Update all other pages to mention Team Fortress 2 branch instead of Source 2013 Multiplayer, and add new features to this page (if there are any).
Remember to check for any notes left by the tagger at this article's talk page.
The Team Fortress 2 branch (also referred as Source 2013 Multiplayer v2, or TF2 branch for short) is a newer version of
Source 2013 Multiplayer, developed from updates to
Team Fortress 2. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch was also upgraded to this branch after the 20th Anniversary update. All remaining Source 2013 Multiplayer games (
,
,
and
SDK) were upgraded to this branch on 18 February 2025.
The branch also adds new features, including one from Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary Update, Left 4 Dead engine branch and later branches.
Features
New since the Source 2013 Multiplayer branch is:
64-bit binaries (also in
)
- Allows the game to access more than 4GB RAM and have slightly better performance. Additionally, tools such as Hammer, map compilers (VBSP, VVIS, VRAD), etc... also have 64-bit binaries.
Note:64-bit is not available on Mac.
- VScript (also in
)
- A powerful new scripting system primarily using
Squirrel. Third-party games may have different VScript implementation.
- WebM video playback (also in
)
- Used for game intros or cutscenes in some games. Replaces Bink video. WebM allows smaller file sizes without significant degradation in video quality.
- Vulkan renderer (also in
)
- A low-overhead, cross-platform graphics API, successor to OpenGL.
- First introduced in 2022 with the release of Steam Deck update for Half-Life 2 and Portal, and later added to Team Fortress 2 during the 64-bit update. Portal with RTX also uses Vulkan as part of the RTX Remix runtime. Using DXVK, a library used to translate Direct3D calls to Vulkan. This is disabled by default, but can be enabled in supported games by passing -vulkan into the game's launch options.
- VGUI High
DPI support (also in
20th)
- VGUI elements are now properly scalable on higher resolutions such as 4K (3840x2160).
- Steam Networking
- Allows self-hosting using Steam Datagram Relay, meaning users can easily create joinable servers without port forwarding.
Bicubic lightmap filtering (also in
20th
)
- Introduced in 2024, bicubic filtering is used on lightmaps when r_lightmap_bicubic is enabled, smoothing out aliasing caused by the lower resolution of lightmaps. It can be also enabled by setting the Shader detail to "Very High".
- Radial fog (also in
20th)
- Unlike planar-based fog, radial fog does not strengthen or weaken the apparent amount of fog in a particular spot when you rotate the camera.
- You can either use radial fog or planar-based fog by changing env_fog_controller "Use Radial Fog (fogRadial)" KeyValues.
- Texture streaming (also in
)
- Reduces system RAM and graphics card VRAM usage by streaming textures as needed instead of loading them all when loading the map.
- Swaying trees (also in
)
- Introduced in Jungle Inferno update. A material parameter that gives the effect of trees swaying in the wind.
- Removal of Miles Sound System middleware
- Uses open-source
minimp3 for MP3 playback instead. Files related to Miles Sound System will remain on the game's
bin
folder, but left unused.
- Numerous security fixes
- See GitHub post.
Availability
Source code (game, tools) for this branch is available on GitHub.
Valve
- 2004
Counter-Strike: Source (formerly
,
,
,
)
- 2004
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (formerly
,
,
,
)
- 2005
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source (formerly
,
,
)
- 2005
Day of Defeat: Source (formerly
,
,
,
)
- 2007
Team Fortress 2 (formerly
,
,
)
- 2014
Source SDK Base 2013 - Multiplayer (formerly
; Click to Install)
Note:Mods built on
Source SDK Base 2013 - Multiplayer prior to the upgrade to the Team Fortress 2 branch may not work properly if the mod is launched with updated SDK Base 2013 MP, so if you want to use legacy version of Source SDK Base 2013 - Multiplayer to play older mods (or use older tools), follow the instructions:
- Open Steam, go to Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer, right click Properties
- A window will open. Go to "Betas", select previous2021 beta branch.
- Steam will automatically re-download the files. Once it's done, run Source SDK Base 2013 MP as normal, or use it's tools.