Team Fortress 2 Update from October 16, 2026

A Team Fortress 2 update is now available. It will be applied automatically the next time you restart the game. The main changes are:

• Fixed several maps that were failing to record play time accurately
• Corrected the alpha channel on the refreshed Cozy Camper backpack image
• Updated cp_holyhell
  • Fixed the BLU-side skybox not rendering for players with HDR enabled
  • Refined the art pass on the RED side
  • Refined the art pass on the middle point
  • Spells are now enabled and respawn permanently on the side of whichever team has lost the middle point, and this can swing in either direction
  • Shortened the round timer to 5 minutes
  • Once a team has held middle for 5 minutes, the map no longer ends in a stalemate. Instead, every spell becomes a rare variant and respawns extremely quickly. When a point is captured during this phase, the spells revert to normal
  • Shortened respawn wave times
  • Gargoyles now spawn only near the middle point
  • Improved performance and optimization
• Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woods
  • Fixed player models appearing invisible in DX8
  • Fixed the tiling HUD icon for the Heal ability
  • Fixed an incorrect number display in the “Auto-spawn” text of the spawn picker
  • Reworked the Zombie Engineer’s Beacon
    • Beacons placed in tight spaces no longer break instantly and will instead settle in the nearest valid location
    • Fixed thrown toolboxes appearing off-center
    • Thrown toolboxes now break on contact with any clip brush if no valid location can be found nearby
  • Reduced the Zombie Sniper’s Spit cooldown from 9 seconds to 6 seconds
  • Reworked the Zombie Pyro
    • Raised melee damage from 45 to 65
    • Sticky Spew now inflicts a 20% movement slow
    • Standing in puddles of sticky spew adds a further 20% movement slow
    • Sticky spew puddles are now larger
    • Increased the movement slow on a spewed Demoman shield from -60% to -70%
    • Humans coated in sticky spew now take on a purple tint instead of black
    • The Zombie Pyro’s death explosion now deals 50 damage, ignites victims with afterburn, and reduces both the Pyro and its victims to ash
  • Fixed the Zombie Heavy bursting into rock gibs while not holding a rock
  • Fixed the Homewrecker being unable to destroy EMP grenades
  • Updated the Zombie Demoman charge kill icon
  • Replaced the Zombie melee impact sounds with fist hits instead of the squelchy Unarmed Combat sound
  • Fixed the Zombie Spy dealing more damage than intended
  • Fixed queue events involving certain zombie abilities
  • Fixed Zombies occasionally moving slowly after using an ability

Source