A new update has arrived for Team Fortress 2, automatically applying upon restarting the game. This significant update ushers in Scream Fortress XVII, bringing a wealth of new content and various game improvements for players to enjoy.
Scream Fortress XVII Unleashed!
The annual Halloween event, Scream Fortress XVII, is now live, featuring five new community-created maps:
- Cowerhouse
- Dusker
- Afterlife
- Devilcross
- Marshlands
A new item, the Spectral Stash Case, has been added. This case contains 23 new community-created cosmetic items that form the Spectral Stash Collection. Additionally, opening a case offers a chance to receive one of four new community-created Halloween-restricted items or a taunt Unusualifier as a bonus.
Three new community-contributed taunts are now available in the Mann Co. Store:
- Taunt: Heartbreaker
- Taunt: Healthcare Hog
- Taunt: Ring King
Fifteen new community-created Unusual effects have also been introduced:
- Seven new effects for Unusual hats
- Eight new effects for Unusual taunts
Players who launch the game will receive a Soul Gargoyle if they do not already possess one. This item grants access to Merasmissions and Halloween item transmutations, and it tracks completed Merasmissions and collected souls.
All Halloween Contracts have been reset, allowing players to complete them again. New Contracts have been added specifically for this year’s featured community maps. Completing a Halloween Contract rewards players with a classic Halloween item and a chance to receive a Spectral Stash Case.
The event continues last year’s tradition of collecting the souls of dead players for the Soul Gargoyle by eliminating enemies, completing map objectives, or gathering Soul Gargoyles that appear in maps.
During the event, all cosmetic and taunt Cases will grant Halloween 2025 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects. This change does not apply to Crates.
Players can join Halloween matches by utilizing the Special Events category in Casual mode. Scream Fortress XVII will run through November 7th, 2025.
General Improvements and Fixes
Several general updates have been implemented to enhance gameplay and consistency:
- (VSH) and (ZI) extensions have been added to community game mode map names for easier identification.
- Self-illumination settings for capture point materials have been fixed (a community contribution from Horiuchi).
- The Weather Master now cloaks properly.
- An issue with props and team colors when taunting with the Mutated Milk has been resolved.
- Various strings have been updated for consistency.
- The ConTracker has been updated to allow community map contracts to be completed in any order.
- The Dusk Duster has been updated to include “No Bullets” styles and fix missing triangles under the right lapel.
- Performance for the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects has been improved.
- Randolph the Blood-Nosed Caribou has been updated to fix a missing self-illumination setting for the BLU team.
Map-Specific Adjustments
pl_camber
- The forward spawn has been fixed again.
pl_citadel
- Prop placement around the C checkpoint has been adjusted.
- Clipping issues and adjustments have been made.
- Visual fixes and adjustments have been implemented.
koth_demolition
- Steam whistle sounds have been updated.
- Ambient_generic levels across the map have been reduced to prevent sound playback problems.
- RED side wooden signs on the lower flank have been adjusted to match the BLU side.
- Spawn points have been adjusted to face the main door.
- A trimp spot on the crane platform has been removed.
- The healthpack on the crane platform has been moved forward, eliminating the need for players to make a U-turn to reach the control point.
- A jump pad has been added on the crane platform to assist less mobile classes in returning to the control point if they become stuck.
- Critical hit particles have been added to the “evil deer” when it eliminates players.
- Collision has been added to some pipes near the control point platform, allowing players to stand on them.
- The nav mesh has been adjusted to accommodate these new changes (thanks to Katsu).
