Team Fortress 2: Exploring the Potential of 100-Player Servers

When faced with a swarm of pyros at the spawn exit, I couldn’t help but question whether more players in Team Fortress 2 servers would improve the gameplay experience.

Since Valve’s ‘Big Summer Update’ and the addition of 14 new maps and 25 cosmetics, Team Fortress 2 has received numerous exciting updates. However, the recent announcement of raising the player count from 32 to 100 was not endorsed or recommended by Valve.

While the idea of 100-player servers sounds enticing, it’s rare to find servers that truly push the boundaries of what Team Fortress 2 can handle. In reality, most players still prefer the traditional 32-player setup.

But for the TRG team, the increased player count provided a perfect reason to revisit TF2 and assess the current state of this iconic game.

A few years ago, I last wielded a Scattergun when my friends and I exhausted all available multiplayer games. Initially, it was enjoyable, but soon we were besieged by hordes of sniper bots that took us down with a single shot whenever we dared to peek out of spawn.

Fortunately, this time around, the bot invasion was absent. I was pleasantly surprised that there were no cat-and-mouse encounters as we switched from one server to another. Instead, we played full matches with only occasional encounters with cheaters.

After the initial thrill subsided, we were able to have proper matches in Team Fortress 2 for the first time in years. However, it did take a few games for the team matchmaking to balance out.

Initially, as a medic, I found myself trapped in spawn, desperately trying to assist the heavy in breaking through the enemy defense or destroying their turret. Unfortunately, our attempts were mostly futile, leading to short-lived matches.

Thankfully, towards the end, we finally found a match with balanced matchmaking. These matches reminded me why I used to spend countless hours playing Team Fortress 2 with my friends, flying across the map as Scout and engaging in exhilarating battles I had long forgotten.

Despite our mixed experience, it’s refreshing to see a beloved game like Team Fortress 2 receiving attention even after 16 years. It can be challenging to breathe new life into a title of this caliber. So, even though finding and comprehending 100-player servers may be difficult, it serves as a testament to the lasting appeal and vitality of this multiplayer FPS.

If you’re craving a shooter that’s more current, don’t forget