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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 Source 2013 Multiplayer 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 Team Fortress 2 branch (also referred as Source 2013 Multiplayer v2, or TF2 branch for short) is a newer version of Source 2013 Multiplayer Source 2013 Multiplayer, developed from updates to Team Fortress 2 Team Fortress 2. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch was also upgraded to this branch after the 20th Anniversary update. All remaining Source 2013 Multiplayer games (Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Day of Defeat: Source and Source 2013 Multiplayer 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 Source 2013 Multiplayer branch is:

Wikipedia icon 64-bit binaries (also in Garry's Mod)
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.pngNote:64-bit is not available on Mac.
VScript (also in Mapbase No More Room in Hell Left 4 Dead engine branch Portal 2 engine branch CS:GO engine branch)
A powerful new scripting system primarily using Squirrel Squirrel. Third-party games may have different VScript implementation.
WebM video playback (also in Hunt Down the Freeman Garry's Mod Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Strata Source)
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 Half-Life 2 Portal Left 4 Dead 2 Portal 2 engine branch CS:GO engine branch Strata Source Xengine)
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 Wikipedia icon DPI support (also in Half-Life 2 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.
Wikipedia icon Bicubic lightmap filtering (also in Half-Life 2 20th Half-Life: Source)
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 Mapbase Left 4 Dead engine branch Alien Swarm engine branch Portal 2 engine branchCS:GO engine branch Strata Source Half-Life 2 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 CS:GO engine branchTitanfall branch)
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 Garry's Mod Mapbase Left 4 Dead engine branch Alien Swarm engine branch Portal 2 engine branch CS:GO engine branch Strata Source Xengine)
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 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

Note.pngNote:Mods built on Source 2013 Multiplayer 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:
  1. Open Steam, go to Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer, right click Properties
  2. A window will open. Go to "Betas", select previous2021 beta branch.
  3. Steam will automatically re-download the files. Once it's done, run Source SDK Base 2013 MP as normal, or use it's tools.