TF??? Valve’s Mystery Project Codename Found In Latest Deadlock Update

by

The recent update on Valve’s latest hero shooter, “Deadlock,” has unveiled a cryptic name, which might suggest an upcoming, yet-to-be-announced game. Given that Valve is developing a game engine capable of supporting both Counter-Strike 2 and Deadlock, it’s common for data miners to stumble upon codenames for unreleased projects within the engine’s data. In fact, before their official announcements, the codenames for games like Half Life 3 (Citatel) and Deadlock (HLX) were already discovered.

Project TF: What Is Valve Working On Right Now?

Within the resourcecompiler.dll file of Deadlock (previously known as Citadel), the codename “Tf” was discovered. Analysis indicates that this name is more recent than both Deadlock and Counter-Strike 2. As per Valve dataminer Tyler McVicker, this isn’t just remnant text from past projects; instead, it seems to hold some significance.

“It’s more than just two letters,” McVicker emphasized. “This is not a random thing that could be leftover.”

The revelation seems reminiscent of past Valve leaks. In around 2022, a project known as “HLX” emerged, eventually morphing into what many speculate is Half-Life 3. The recent “Tf” codename appears to be another instance of premature disclosures.

How Valve Makes Games

In essence, all Valve-developed games utilize a shared Source 2 engine. This means that instead of creating distinct engines for each individual game, they develop one universal platform. Consequently, when developers are working on one game, certain code snippets may unintentionally be incorporated into the files of other games. It’s through this overlap that data miners are able to unearth hidden secrets across Valve’s games.

“Everything at Valve is done on the same piece of software and that software is Source 2,” McVicker explained.

Developers at Valve have to move between various game projects frequently, so they assign secret names (codenames) to them. Upon the release of Source 2 under one such codename, the engine automatically modifies its tools specifically for that specific game.

What Does “TF” Stand For?

It seems quite plausible that the assumption leans towards Team Fortress, given it debuted in 2007 and continues to have an active player base, yet there’s been no follow-up for more than sixteen years.

McVicker believes that “Tf” is probably an innovative creation by Valve Corporation, rather than a third-party production or mere adaptation. It could potentially be the next installment of Team Fortress (Team Fortress 3), a derivative, or something entirely fresh and unrelated.

For fans of Valve, the routine is familiar: patience is key. Known for their meticulous approach and penchant for secrecy, Valve could take years to transition a codename into a finished game, as demonstrated with Deadlock (originally Citadel). However, what’s certain is that within Valve, a team is actively developing a project named “Tf”. Given their history of quality work, it’s definitely worth keeping a watchful eye.

Despite primarily concentrating on Steam and hardware such as the Steam Deck, it is evident that Valve continues to develop fresh video games as well.

Read More

2025-05-14 22:09