TF2 is in limbo state / bad shape since ~2016.

*New*:
Cheating bots resurfaced in January 2025.
Human cheaters are still a big problem (even if reduced in 2024)

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Valve still need to:

1-Massively overhaul the VAC system because it's outdated.
2-Ban human cheaters for real.
3-Stop neglecting TF2.
4-Communicate again with us.

THIS STUFF HAS TO BE DONE.

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Competitive Mode:

The "unofficial comp scene" have his own set of rules/weapons restrictions and leagues. Noboby plays it.
This is just pointless to keep that "dead on arrival" competitive gamemode in the main menu. It should be removed.

TF2 was never designed to be a competitive game at his core and it shows.
It just doesn't work.

Not to mention it's nearly impossible to balance every weapons between Competitive Mode and Casual Mode.
And considering "unofficial comp scene" is a VERY SMALL part of the TF2 Community, it shouldn't be balanced towards this vision.

We want random crits "On".
We want random bullet spread "On".
We want fun weapons.

Because all of this, is part of TF2 DNA.

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Casual Mode:
1-The Current Matchmaking:
It was doomed / broken since start. Both video explains everything you need to know:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNxg5stxlhk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRTLnJO3zeU

The previous "Quicklplay" was infinitly better. Bring it back. It will probably solve most issues we're facing right now.

2-Class Restrictions:
Forcing 2 slots maximum per class should be beneficial on a 24 slots server (meaning every team will have at least 1 merc of each type).
It will solve the issue to have 3 Spy, 3 Sniper or 3 "whatever" class per team (or more) which leads to unbalanced / awful rounds in most cases.

3-Balanced Weapons Stats:
A lot of buffs and nerfs are needed.
Share and explain any changes into the TF2 Blog (like it was the case few years ago, it was interesting).
Veteran players can help.

Core Changes:
Sniper:
-This is the only class in TF2 that can oneshot any merc with hitscan weapons AND he can do that AT ANY RANGE in a blink of an eye. Literally no other merc have such powers.
- Jarate + Bushwacka combo is almost OP (you can kill 7 out of 9 classes with a single swing).
-Razorback also deny ANY spy knives (which are primary weapons of Spy).
Sniper isn't supposed to be weak at close range?


Demoman:
-"Hybrid Demoknights" are tolerable to some extent, BUT "Full Melee Demoknights" should be removed because this "subclass" as nothing to do with a Demoman in general.
I mean no explosives weapons on a Demoman? WTF are you thinking? You can't take down Engineers' nests reliably. No others subclasses for others classes redesign a class entirely. "Full Melee Demoknight" is literally a new class that add so many problems about the general balance of TF2.
Totally absurd and HORRIBLE to fight against. A Demoman must have at least one weapon with explosive damage (Caber doesn't count ofc).
-"Hybrid Demoknights" and "Full Melee Demoknight" using Eyelander can sponge an abursd amount of damage.

Engineer:
-Wrangler shield can sponge an abursd amount of damage.
-Short Circuit on Payload Mode in BLU team is too good, you can spam it while being close to the cart (infinite ammo), it deny any projectiles (particularly against Soldier / Demoman).

Spy:
-Remove the "outline feature" for allies when they freshly spawn.
This feature give the position, direction and disguise of any enemy Spy near their spawn.
We've been playing for years without this feature, and it wasn't a problem before.
This is literally a wallhack against Spy. Totally absurd.

And this is only the highlights of the worst things, much more work is needed to balance this game properly.

5-Ranks:
For the people who accumulated XP points in Casual Mode since 2016 and still doing it to this day. You could create a wearable item with differents grades that reflect the current XP points, kinda like the badges for winning "Duels Mini-Game", to not waste all the XP collected since 2016.

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Cosmetics, Maps and Content:
1-Adding 1 extra cosmetic slot?
Actually people want to equip all (or more of their items).
-1 headgear, 1 facial misc, 1 upper body misc, 1 lower body misc.
It would make so much sense to fully equip your merc from head to toes.

2-Bring back good & harsh quality control for the TF2 Workshop.
So many questionnable cosmetics have been added officially into the game and started to ruin the iconic TF2 artstyle since years. Take notes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RAF-55O2-k

3-Stop adding truckload of unusual effects:
Most of them tends to ruin the TF2 artstyle and bloat this game even more.
Fun Fact: Nowadays you looks special when you don't wear unusuals...

4-Stop adding unfinished maps.
Pl_wutville was the worst map ever added in TF2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmruZp9N28M

5-Quality > Quantity
Number of map in 2023:
-Summer: 14
-Scream Fortress: 12
-Smissmas: 10
-36 maps in 1 year. This game receive more maps this year alone, perhaps more than the 5 previous years combined or something. Not to mention, half of them are bad/passable or broken at launch.

I would say 3 maps PER YEAR (1 every 4 months) should be the maximum at this point.
BUT frankly we already have enough maps for the end of times.

6-Community Fixes:
Plenty of fixes are waiting to be implemented into the game (TF2 Workshop).
Many of them makes so much sense, are well made, and should have been implemented since years.
These people literally do your jobs for free. Scout's BLU pant when?

In definitive, this is totally absurd to bloat the game even further and don't care about anything that really matters.
We need bug fixes, balance changes, AND not truckload of buggy and bad content.

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Scream Fortress:
-This event is about the same since 7 consecutive years (2018 to 2024). Most bonus contracts are insanely tedious, especially the infamous "pumpkins bombs kills" or stun Merasmus 12 times.
I know that because I was mad enough to completed them at 100% every year since their creation (yes including bonus contracts). It's getting incredibly old, boring AF and very time consuming.
Took me 90 hours to complete in 2024. I did them partially with few friends or alone but even if you've the chance to queue with 5 friends every time, it still takes longer each year since more maps are added.

55 maps, 171 contracts to complete is just stupid. This is just lazy, bad content throw at the player face.

Also no rewards for completing every bonus? What a joke, seriously...
At least, gave something for the players who completed them since 2018. Could be a specific item, badge, UI ranks. Anything...

For the future I suggest to rework this event from scratch (or at least ask your playerbase to vote for only 5-10 maps max for the next event.
I'm sure any sane TF2 player would prefer something new and far less more time consuming / repetitive. This is event lost his charm years ago and it doesn't make any sense anymore.

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Summary:
We're waiting your company to fix your game since 2016.

1-Human cheaters still exists. Ban them.
2-Casual Mode is a mess. Remove it. Bring back Quickplay.
3-We need meaningful updates. Weapons' balance changes and bug fixes are absolutely needed.
4-Stop adding truckload of content for seasonal updates (maps, unusuals, unusuals taunts, warpaints...). Bloating the game with useless or tacky stuff is ruining the artstyle in the long run. Preserve it.

Seeing TF2 still being monetised to this day while most of the content is made since years by the TF2 community is really scummy.
Especially when barely nothing is done by your company to make the game enjoyable at so many levels.

TF2 is slowly dying because of your carelessness and radio silence.
This is your duty and job to make TF2 a better game than it was for the 8 previous years.

We, players, refuse to let this game rot for years to come.
Listen your loyal fans, it will be a huge win win if TF2 can make a comeback from hell.