TF2 has been gaining traction again after Valve’s recent take on bots. Read on to learn more about the ban, how many were removed from the game and how this affected the TF2 community.
TF2 Player Numbers Skyrocket After Steam’s Bot Ban
Valve Holds Their Ground
Team Fortress 2 (TF2) has witnessed a dramatic increase in player numbers following a substantial bot ban by Steam. On June 27, TF2 had just over 60,000 players, but within the last 24 hours, this number surged to around 145,000, as seen on SteamDB. This spike coincides with the release of a new FAQ page on Steam, explicitly addressing bans related to TF2. The page clearly states that bans are permanent, non-negotiable, and cannot be reversed by Steam Support, echoing a firm stance against botting and cheating.
TF2 has been battling a persistent bot issue since 2017, when Valve reduced its major updates for the game. Despite ongoing bug fixes and community contributions, the bot problem has escalated, particularly around 2020. This led to player-driven campaigns like "FixTF2," which aimed to push Valve into taking decisive action.
Valve's recent bot ban wave targeted behaviors such as cheating, manipulation, "botting and/or automation," and "interfering with the normal operation of game servers or other players." This aggressive stance resulted in the removal of approximately 16,000 bots from the player base on June 27.
Community Rejoices as Bots Disappear
YouTuber Shounic, known for their TF2 content and documenting the bot issue, reported a significant reduction in bots. He noted, "99% of bots are currently gone. I asked my Discord to report back, and nobody in any region – North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania – ran into any bots." Shounic further detailed that during his searches at various times, he found either zero or only one bot, compared to the past when bots were prevalent in every lobby.
Shounic also shared community-sourced data, albeit unverified by PC Gamer, indicating that out of 849 logged bot accounts, 89 were VAC banned, 131 received community bans, four got game bans, and 249 accounts were deleted entirely. The exact reasons for the split in ban types remain unclear.
The TF2 community is celebrating this development, with many players noting the absence of bots in matches and expressing optimism about the game's future if Valve continues its efforts. The increase in player numbers from 60,000 to 145,000 reflects this renewed enthusiasm.
Despite this success, the bot problem may persist. It is uncertain whether this banwave represents a long-term solution or merely a temporary reprieve. However, for now, the TF2 community is enjoying the victory and hoping for a sustained effort from Valve to maintain the game's integrity.
Source:
TF2 Player Chart SteamDB
Shounic Video Report
PC Gamer Article
