The October 16, 2026 Team Fortress 2 update is live and applies automatically when players restart the game. It sends cp_holyhell back out with a new spell-driven answer to stalemates, while also reworking Zombie Pyro, Zombie Engineer's Beacon, and a batch of zombie-mode fixes.

• Spells are enabled and respawn permanently on the side of the team that loses middle. That can go both ways.
• The round timer is down to 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes of any team capturing middle, instead of a stalemate, every spell becomes a rare variant and respawns extremely quickly. Capturing a point in that state returns spells to normal.
• Respawn wave times are lower.
• Gargoyles now spawn only near middle.
• The map gets optimization improvements, an improved RED-side art pass, and an improved middle-point art pass.
• The BLU-side skybox now renders for users with HDR enabled.

• Melee damage increased from 45 to 65.
• Sticky Spew applies a 20% movement slow; standing on puddles adds another 20%.
• Sticky Spew puddles are larger.
• Spewed Demoman shield movement slow changed from -60% to -70%.
• Humans covered in sticky spew are tinted purple instead of black.
• Zombie Pyro's death explosion now deals 50 damage, applies afterburn, and turns Zombie Pyro and victims to ash.

• Beacons inside tight spaces no longer instantly break; they place themselves in the closest valid location.
• Fixed thrown toolboxes appearing off-center.
• Thrown toolboxes now break upon touching all clip brushes if they can't find a nearby valid location.

• Zombie Sniper Spit cooldown changed from 9 seconds to 6 seconds.
• Fixed Zombie Heavy exploding into rock gibs when not holding a rock.
• Fixed the Homewrecker not being able to destroy EMP grenades.
• Updated the Zombie Demoman charge kill icon.
• Zombie melee impact sounds changed into fists instead of the sloppy wet Unarmed Combat.
• Fixed Zombie Spy dealing more damage than intended.
• Fixed queue events with some zombie abilities.
• Fixed Zombies sometimes moving slowly after casting an ability.

• Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woods.
• Fixed some maps not tracking play time correctly.
• Fixed the alpha channel for the updated Cozy Camper backpack image.
• Fixed player models being invisible in dx8.
• Fixed the tiling HUD icon for the Heal ability.
• Fixed the bad number display in the "Auto-spawn" text in the spawn picker.

MGE.tf has opened sign-ups for its next Team Fortress 2 season, and players have until October 3rd to enter. The returning season adds two new game modes and two new regions, with more than bragging rights on the line: competitors will play for keys, medals, and glory.

The season runs a six-week regular season and then playoffs. The full lineup is:

• MGE 1v1
• MGE 2v2
• Ultiduo
• BBALL

Competition will take place across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Both Ultiduo and BBALL are free to enter.

Register through mge.tf/signup, or follow the MGE.tf Discord and YouTube for updates.

KritzKast presents ÜBERFEST LAN for the third consecutive year, in Stuttgart, Germany from September 10–13, 2026. This year, viewers at home get in on the celebration: anyone who tunes into the live stream and watches a few hours will receive an exclusive in-game viewer medal. In-person players, supporters, and top teams will earn unique medals, and first place takes home a massive trophy by Arkan, based on a design by David, winner of May's community competition.

The long weekend pairs top-tier European 6s esports with summer sun, beer, and BBQ — though KritzKast notes the beer is not free. Tickets are available for those who want to play or just support the competing players from the sidelines.

• More information and tickets
• KritzKast's Twitch
• ÜBERFEST Discord
• KritzKast Discord

Merasmus is back in debt, and he's looking to the Workshop for help. The Witching Hour is a community-run Team Fortress 2 contest challenging creators to whip up brand-new Halloween spells for Scream Fortress. The best entries earn key and item prizes, after which the finest creations will be collected and sold to satisfy Lukapher the Flatulent and his poor-teethed cronies.

Spells, curses, and otherwise legally safe-ish tinctures are all welcome. For the full rules and submission details, join The Witching Hour Discord server.

Submissions close when the third hour of the twenty-ninth moon of the eighth month strikes — so if you've got a profitable curse in mind, don't wait for THE WITCHING HOUR to hit.

The server is underdeveloped and raw. Not only is the server owner a hypocrite who swears at his players (often children), but basically, according to former and current admins, Farsh doesn't pay them, which is why they don't care about DDoSers, or cheats, or worse — spinbots with aim.

Honestly, the concept is interesting: Ancient Rus vibe, RP, events, etc. But it all falls apart when you look at this project right now — it makes you want to cry.

I would make the peaceful mode free and remove the ability to shrink yourself with VIP (because that's genuinely pay to win), make separate portals for separate PvP and RP zones (or something similar). Farsh, if you're reading this, start listening to your players, fix the balance, and work on the anti-cheat or on your admins. Despite all the downsides, I enjoyed the kind community and the fun situations. Wishing you success ❤️

RED and BLU are heading to the final frontier. Community group TF2 Painter's Workshop has announced Operation Mooncrash, a TF2 community project built to revive and expand the Moon Base theme. The project will consider cosmetics, war paints, maps, weapons, weapon unusuals, map assets, and more for inclusion in a final community collection. The announcement was published August 6, 2026.

Creators can enter both Standard and Limited Skins/UV/Dragon Slayer war paint categories.

Asset categories span posters, world textures, gameplay assets, environment assets, and detail props, with five subcategories and five initial prize placements.

Creators can still see their war paint or map asset included in the final community collection even if they've already hit the maximum contest entries.

Participation runs through the TF2 Painter's Workshop Discord server.

RGL, the largest North American competitive TF2 league, and TF2 Coaching Central (TF2CC) are teaming up for the next 6s Newcomer Cup. The cup runs September 4-6, 2026, and TF2CC's four-week training intensive is open for applications until August 8, 2026.

TF2CC's intensive targets players with little or no competitive experience. Accepted players are put into teams and assigned a coach to teach 6s basics, including maps and strategies, as they prepare for their first competitive event. Mirroring past TF2CC Newbie Cup events, the training period involves scrims with teammates and coach-led reviews before the RGL-run cup kicks off.

Players can also enter the RGL cup on their own without joining the training program. TF2CC will make coaching, learning resources, and pickup games available to the public. Signups and details are at the TF2CC Discord, with the league side at RGL.gg and the RGL Discord.