Summary
Team Fortress 2players are rallying together online to save the game from a plague of head-shotting sniper bots with the “Save TF2” petition that has since gained over 140,000 signatures. A previousTeam Fortress 2petition from 2022 did lead to a major update that at least attempted to address the issue, but the bots seem to not only persist, but are more numerous than ever.
Valve’s iconic hero-based shooter has enjoyed a massive fanbase since its launch and pioneered the genre, paving the way fortitles likeOverwatchandValorantto take a similar formula and go in all-new directions with it. While the game has seen a massive slow-up when it comes to legitimate updates from Valve, it still enjoys a healthy player base of dedicated fans who wish to see the game thrive.
This is exactly what led to the creation of the “Save TF2” campaign which takes the form of both a Twitter hashtagand an official websitewhere fans can sign their name on a petition calling on Valve to address the bot issue. According to Twitter user heavyfortres, who announced the website in a recent post, the issue has persisted for over five years and continues to grow worse as time goes on, likely due to a lack of moderation since Valve has moved on to more recent titles.
Team Fortress 2 Fans Are Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
Since its initial creation, the “Save TF2” petition has gained over 140,000 signatures, though only around 58,000 have been officially confirmed, and it is unclear just how many are needed to get Valve’s attention once again. However,the notoriously resilientTeam Fortress 2communityhas other plans as well, such as a proposed mass Twitter callout on June 3 in which fans have asked other users to tag the developers en masse.
Players have stated that the botting problem extends past simple aimbotting as well, with reports of bots spamming harsh language and profanities in the game’s text chat. Valve does have anti-cheat measures in place for the game,the same used inCounter-Strike 2and other multiplayer games, though it has seemingly failed to prevent the spread of bots, as even that game has suffered from a similar issue.
As of right now, it is still unclear how aware Valve actually is ofthe issues plaguingTeam Fortress 2, but the fans seem intent on continuing their campaign to eradicate the bots from the game, even enlisting the help of prominentTF2YouTubers. Valve has a history of neglecting the game when it comes to major updates in recent years, which have left many members of the community feeling abandoned as the developers continue to focus on newer projects.
Team Fortress 2
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the most popular online action games of all time, Team Fortress 2 delivers constant free updates—new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats. Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities, and lend themselves to a variety of player skills.Detailed training and offline practice modes will help you hone your skills before jumping into one of TF2’s many game modes, including Capture the Flag, Control Point, Payload, Arena, King of the Hill and more.Make a character your own:There are hundreds of weapons, hats and more to collect, craft, buy and trade. Tweak your favorite class to suit your gameplay style and personal taste. You don’t need to pay to win—virtually all of the items in the Mann Co. Store can also be found in-game.
