The Enduring Success of Team Fortress 2: Reaching New Heights in 2023
Team Fortress 2 (TF2), the beloved multiplayer FPS title, has recently shattered its own record for concurrent users, solidifying its status as one of the best FPS games of all time. After 16 years since its release, TF2 achieved an all-time peak in player count on July 13, with an impressive 253,997 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.
While other metrics like Twitch statistics have remained unchallenged for five years, the thriving community surrounding TF2 proves that the game is still alive and kicking. As of today, there are 174,292 players engaged in-game. Comparatively, the 2020 game Apex Legends has only 199,479 players, further emphasizing TF2’s enduring success.
The surge in players can be largely attributed to Valve’s new TF2 summer event, which introduced exciting additions such as new maps, effects, war paints, and taunts. In a blog post on the TF2 official page, the event was described as “as-yet-unnamed, un-themed, but still very exciting summer-situated (but not summer-themed) (unless you wanted to develop summer-themed stuff) update,” and it made clever use of Steam Workshop content.
TF2’s ability to retain players is truly remarkable, especially considering that the game’s servers for the PlayStation 3 were shut down in April 2023. A Reddit user, FoxMcCloud45, shared a poignant image of a failed server login, marking the end of an era. However, TF2 has always been primarily a PC-centric game, and its player base on Steam remains significant. While it is also available on Xbox 360, its longevity on that platform is uncertain.
While it’s fantastic to witness TF2 experiencing a resurgence, the future remains uncertain for this classic game. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan, so be sure to check out our list of the best overlooked PC shooters, just in case.