We were really impressed that so many of you resubmitted your items as Gold Star submissions since our last post two days ago. Now, given that this is what we asked you to do, you might wonder why we’re so impressed, and the answer is that nobody’s ever done anything we asked ever, so this is a bit of a novelty for us. We’ve been asking Robin Walker to stop breaking into our houses at 2AM to show us his latest hat designs for two years now, and we still wake up with him hovering inches over us, whispering “No worries” and holding up his sketchpad.

But enough about our night terror! The important part is that, to celebrate, we grabbed some of those Gold Star submissions and shipped them. “How much did you ship them?” you ask, your eyebrow arching suspiciously. We shipped them all the way, guys. No half-measures. We shipped the HELL out of these items.

This isn’t the big update we hinted at in the last post, by the way, or any of the other super-secret update content we've been working on that we haven't even hinted at yet*. This is just a little taste, a tide-me-over, what the French might call an amuse-bouche (“Your mouth pleases me.”) Enjoy! Or as the French say, Bon appétit! ("It is good that you are starving.")

*Except just then.

• Added 10 new Steam Workshop items
  • http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=10864
• Added new promo items
• Fixed the in-game UI not using the Language setting from the TF2 Properties dialog in the Steam UI
• Fixed not hearing the Loose Cannon impact sound when playing on dedicated servers

Over the weekend we hit a new landmark, with over ten million dollars paid out to over 400 contributors and partners. And close to $250,000 of that figure will be paid out to the sixty-plus people who created the Robotic Boogaloo update.

If you just read that last paragraph and are kicking yourself for not making that beard of bees sketch a reality, here's the good news: We've also done a bunch of work improving the item submission tool, so it's never been easier to submit. The tool now automatically tests new creations against a set of standards, meaning anything you create is now significantly more likely to be game-ready.

You can now also see how your items will render on TF2 characters within the tool, making the creation process itself even quicker. Plus, every item submitted through the tool will now be tagged with a gold star, showing everyone that it's been vetted. FYI, our next update is going to ship exclusively with "gold star" items, and there's going to be no limit on how many we'll include. (Check out the Workshop FAQ for more info.)

In short, there's never been an easier, faster or more rewarding time to submit to the Workshop. If you're not making that beard of bees dream a reality, let's face it, at this point it's probably a motivational problem on your end.

• Added a new promo item
• Unusual hats that are tradable can now be listed on the Steam Community Market
• Updated the network interpolation and update convars so they can be changed immediately after changing class and respawning. This allows the automatically executed [classname].cfg files to update the values.
• Fixed a bug that would cause some players who used an "Upgrade to Premium" item to be unable to thank another player after upgrading. Accounts that were affected by this bug have been retroactively fixed and will have the option to thank a helpful player automatically next time they log in.
• The ITFItems/GetPlayerItems and ITFItems/GetSchema WebAPI interfaces are now deprecated and will eventually be removed. External tools can call IEconItems/GetPlayerItems and IEconItems/GetSchema for current data.

• Fixed the game failing to launch on Mac OS X 10.5
• Fixed a client crash caused by using custom HUD files
• Fixed a client crash related to the hatless hats and the character loadout screen
• Updated the network interpolation and update convars so they can be changed when dead

• Unusual effects:
  • Attachment point and offset for particle effects on unusual hats can now be adjusted from the character loadout screen
  • Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to float in the air over dead players
  • Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to show incorrectly sometimes when spectating other players
• Network interpolation and update convars can no longer be changed when playing. To configure these convars, players must not be connected to a server or must join the spectators
• Fixed a server crash caused by out-of-range animation sequence numbers
• Crates listed on the Community Market are now separated by series
  • Existing listings will be migrated over the next couple days

• Added new Adult Swim items to the Mann Co. Store
  • The Breather Bag, The Weather Master, and The Bacteria Blocker
• Added ETF2L Highlander Season 4 and ETF2L 6v6 Season 14 tournament medals
• Fixed mat_viewportupscale using an error material for clients using DirectX8
• Fixed config_arena.cfg being replaced by the default version when dedicated servers update
• Fixed the Soldier's grenades being hidden when equipping the Full Metal Drill Hat and the Soldier's Sparkplug
• Fixed a missing LOD on the dispenser
• Updated the -insert_search_path delimiter to be a comma instead of a semi-colon
• Updated the equip region on the Practitioner's Processing Mask to match the Physician's Procedure Mask
• Updated The Conscientious Objector and The Bat Outta Hell so they can be crafted and can be used to craft other items

• Added support for VR mode on OSX
• Fixed a bad material on the HDMI Patch
• Fixed a server crash on changelevel when the Replay system has been initialized but is not currently running
• Fixed the Soldier's grenades being hidden when equipping the Full Metal Drill Hat and the Soldier's Sparkplug
• Removed replay.cfg from depot and added replay_example.cfg to avoid clobbering user’s replay.cfg

When we first launched the Workshop back in 2011, we had no idea what the TF2 community was capable of. As the hats, beards, boots and hairdos started rolling in, we realized there was a huge well of creativity out there. But we didn’t appreciate just how deep those waters ran until the community-made updates started appearing. Now we've finally gotten to the point where we're able to shine a well-deserved spotlight on your efforts, starting with the Robotic Boogaloo Update, which includes 57 new items—the most community items we've ever shipped at once. Currently the items are only available in RoboCrates. RoboCrates will become rare drops after June 3rd.

This update is 100% created by the TF2 community. And when we say everything, we mean everything—the in-game content, the update hub website, the animated short, the comic, even the splash images in the Steam store. Even better, everything you created avoided the classic trap of using other companies’ intellectual property. (Those of you working on a Darth Vader Pyro mask, we've got some bad news for you.) Plus, in a first for the Team Fortress economy, all the creators of the Robotic Boogaloo Update have decided to share the revenue earned from the sale of RoboCrate Keys. That means that everyone involved will be profiting from this update, not just the people making hats.

This doesn't mark the end of Valve-produced TF2 updates, by the way. As far as we’re concerned, there's plenty of room for both to happily co-exist. We're in uncharted territory here, and it's exciting to be exploring it with you. Amazing work, everyone!

• Fixed server CPU spikes caused by compression of string tables and packets.
• Added sv_netspike, sv_netspike_sendtime_ms, and sv_netspike_output convars for investigating server performance
• net_compresspackets_minsize default value increased to 1024. This convar now also determines the threshold to determine when a "fragment" (logical game network message, before being broken up into network packets) is compressed.
• Added vprof_vtrace and vprof_report_oninterval convars, and tweaked vprof_dump_spikes and vprof_dump_oninterval to reduce output

• Added the Robotic Boogaloo community update: http://www.teamfortress.com/roboticboogaloo/
• Fixed a chat exploit that would cause other clients to timeout from dedicated servers
• Updated the Mann Co. Store
  • Added RoboCrate Keys
  • Added A Random RoboKey Gift
  • Added Pile of RoboKey Gifts
  • Backpack Expanders on sale at 80% off
• Updated the localization files

• Added a missing material for the UGC medals
• Added server convars related to investigating server network and CPU utilization:
  • sv_netspike
  • sv_netspike_sendtime_ms
  • sv_netspike_output

• Added player avatars to the votekick menu
• Added -insert_search_path command line argument
• Fixed deflected Cow Mangler 5000 projectiles doing full critical damage instead of minicrit damage like other deflected projectiles

• Added UGC Highlander Season 9 and UGC 6vs6 Season 11 medals
• Fixed the Botkiller Sniper Rifle, Rocket Launcher and Spy Knife weapons using incorrect team materials for the arms
• Fixed a bug that allowed level 3 mini-sentries in Mann Vs. Machine mode
• Fixed a problem where underwater explosions would cause graphics corruption
• Fixed an issue with HDR rendering where auto-exposure would vary incorrectly in some areas
• Fixed an issue where objects underwater would not render properly
• Fixed incorrect ellipsizing of text in some cases for the Mac version
• Updated the Phlogistinator to reduce the rate for gaining MMMPH when attacking tanks and robots in Mann Vs. Machine mode
• Updated the Tuxxy tuxedo so it can be crafted
• Updated The Wilson Weave and The Ham Shank so they can be crafted, traded and gift-wrapped
• Updated the console so it can be accessed from the terminal that was used to run the game for the Linux and Mac versions
• Updated the Linux version
  • Fixed triggers never registering as "released" on certain game controllers
  • Fixed clipboard issues on some window managers, most notably KDE
  • Fixed a bug where the map list would be reversed
  • Made loading custom fonts for third party HUDs work on certain fonts

The conversion process will only happen once, and then things are gonna get a lot better. But be patient: The conversion probably will take some time. Even on a machine with a fast hard drive, it could take up to 20-30 minutes, during which time it might look like it's hung. But it's not. Don't interrupt it, just please be patient and let it think.

We're sorry to any of you who are getting subjected to a longer-than-expected conversion time. But ultimately, the benefits will be worth a little inconvenience. You'll get faster uninterrupted downloads, quicker boot times and map loads, and easier distribution, installation and management of mods. Read the FAQ for more info, and thanks again for your patience.

• Added "Only allow map files" to the possible selections in the download filter option for clients
• Fixed a client crash related to the material system
• Fixed Diamond/Carbonado Botkiller weapons using incorrect team materials for the arms
• Fixed a vphysics regression where some items would travel farther than they should
• Improved performance and stability for the Linux version
• Removed range restrictions from viewmodel_fov_demo
• Updated the Ap-Sap so it can be gift-wrapped and have custom names/descriptions applied to it

• Added a new ConVar cl_first_person_uses_world_model to allow this mode to be used outside of VR mode
• Disabled plug-ins that would allow users to connect to secure game servers even when -insecure is specified on the command line
  • Continued use of such plug-ins will risk your Steam account getting VAC banned
• Added support for unloading the displayed URL when the user closes the info panel
  • Added ConVar sv_motd_unload_on_dismissal to allow server ops to control the default behavior of their MOTD
• Fixed a client crash related to doing a changelevel while firing the Minigun
• Fixed a bug where you could come out of a teleporter facing the wrong way in VR mode
• Fixed a bug with custom fonts not loading for third party HUDs on Linux.
• Improved performance and stability for the Linux version

• Prevent game servers from opening the MOTD panel more than once if the player connected through matchmaking or quickplay
• Added new promo items
• Fixed a bug where dispensers sapped by a Red-Tape Recorder would continue to heal players
• Fixed buildings destroyed by the Red-Tape Recorder not always displaying a death notice
• Fixed a bug in Mann Vs. Machine related to carrying buildings and using the "Upgrade Buildings" canteen
• Fixed the guitar sound not always playing when taunting with the Neon Annihilator
• Fixed missing cloak effect for the Wanga Prick
• Fixed the Bat Outta Hell using the Red team arms skin while on the Blue team
• Fixed custom cursors in VR mode
• Fixed Hydra input in VR mode
• Improved performance of Linux dedicated server binaries

We don't normally post TF2 cosplay on the blog, for two reasons: 1) We'd quickly turn into a TF2 cosplay site; and 2) Our hearts are shriveled little prunes of hate. But this amazing group of Team Fortress 2 cosplayers at Sakura-Con managed to win even us (and our prune-hearts) over. Any TF2 cosplayer group that can check off Jarate, Ol' Snaggletooth, Pyroland, Scout's Mom, Pink as Hell Paint, The Huntsman, The Eyelander, Merasmus, The Bombinomicon and even Lieutenant Bites has obviously been doing their homework. Awesome work, guys. More pictures here.

Okay, the Reddit guys've probably stopped reading by now, so we can be square with you: Reddit only thinks it bought us, because that's what we told them when we met them over the weekend to sign all the legal documents. What they don't know is that when a bird flew into a window during the signing and everybody on the TF2 team got scared and some of us started crying, that was a little something we in the business world call a distraction.

The "bird" that "flew" into the window? Not a bird at all. It was a squirrel launched from a t-shirt cannon by one of our guys across the street. The part where we got "scared"? Daniel Day Lewis-level method acting by the TF2 team. The part where some of us started "crying"? That was because the sound of the squirrel hitting the glass was a lot louder than we thought it would be and was legitimately scary. So technically real, but still under the umbrella of our overall deception.

Once the Reddit guys were thoroughly distracted, we took advantage of them awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact with us and switched the legal documents for new documents. Documents that said we actually secretly bought them. Business.

In celebration of our Reddit purchase, we're going to add some new Reddit-themed items to the game. There's also plenty of neat stuff we're working on and would love to tease. But realistically, because today is the International Day of Foolishness, anything we told you guys would just be met with suspicion. And when have we ever trolled our community? Never, that's when. Okay, maybe that one time.

• Fixed a bug that caused invisible players in the world
• Fixed Engineer bots in Mann Vs. Machine building disposable sentries that upgrade into tiny, red, level 3 sentries
• Added the Ready Steady Pan tournament medal for Season 2
• Fixed the Festive Axtinguisher, The Disciplinary Action, The Wanga Prick, and The Wrap Assassin sometimes floating in the world after death
• Removed the promotion restrictions from Croft's Crest, The Fortune Hunter, and The Tomb Wrapper
• Updated Mvm_Bigrock to fix a hole in the terrain
• Community requests:
  • Added new inputs for the tf_logic_koth entity: SetRedTimer, SetBlueTimer, AddRedTimer, AddBlueTimer
  • Added a "team" field to the teamplay_flag_event game event to identify which flag the event is for