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Valve are still updating Team Fortress 2 (TF2), and a bigger technical update is currently in the works that will bring 64bit and Vulkan support to the Linux version.

Currently, TF2 on Linux uses ToGL, Valve's original DirectX to OpenGL translation layer. Like what Valve did with their other older games, this update will instead use the vastly newer DXVK, which translates DirectX to Vulkan. Together 64bit and Vulkan support should make the game run much smoother. Eventually, the Windows version should be 64bit too.

Not only that, it's also bumping up TF2 to use the newer Steam Linux Runtime 3.0 "Sniper", making it work better on modern Linux distributions.

Pictured - TF2 on Linux

You can try it out right now under the "x64_linux_test" Beta branch on Steam, which is now public, but you will not be able to connect to public servers or do matchmaking. It's purely for local testing and benchmarking. On top of that the Team Fortress 2 Dedicated Server is also being updated to go along with it (Steam App ID: 232250).

Good to see more TF2 updates really are coming.

TF2 is available on Steam.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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10 comments

TiagoMatos Jan 24
So happy to see TF2 getting some attention from valve, can't wait to see this in the main game
sonic2kk Jan 24
Very cool to see another game using DXVK Native, it has come a long way!
Calinou Jan 24
This will probably be handy for those 100-player servers, which I assume are pretty draw call-heavy.
Linux_Rocks Jan 25
I'm glad this is finally gonna be 64-bit. But I wish Valve would actually make a 64-bit version of the first Left4Dead on macOS though. D:
TrainDoc Jan 25
My thanks to Joshie for almost singlehandedly maintaining all of the shit Valve should be maintaining themselves and he's not even a full employee at Valve. He took time away from all his work on stuff related to the Steam Deck to do this.
As someone who plays TF2, I am very happy to hear this, very excited!
Eike Jan 25
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Not only that, it's also bumping up TF2 to use the newer Steam Linux Runtime 3.0 "Sniper", making it work better on modern Linux distributions.

Isn't making the game more independent of the version of the distribution the Raison d'être of the Linux runtimes?
edo Jan 26
Linux version of tf2 really needs this update as it freezes because togl (which has been known for years)
Szkodnix Jan 27
There are actually a few public servers that support this version, mostly for testing, but those are perfectly playable: https://www.battlemetrics.com/servers/tf2/25648009
ElTutucaZen Jan 27
That's awesome! I stopped playing due to lag mostly, looks like the Linux version will be better than the Window$ one for a little while at least
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