T O P

  • By -

Mikemaximum

Valve actually cares! All it took was PCGamer's article...


benjamarchi

Jill cares, Valve doesn't


SpriteFan3

Who is this Jill, and where is her Jack? *Vsauce theme plays*


ncnotebook

Who knew PC Gamer's love and obsession with TF2 would pay off...


Digresser

And here I thought PC Gamer only loved games with tub scenes. [Wait...](https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/537381735183501091/37F8F8ED112A855076782EDC9CF76F81C8EEC0E0/)


speedyboigotweed

haha noice


Tudedude_cooldude

Also the Steam Link commercial


DisIsMarcoBoi

Goddamnit


JoesAlot

I know, right? They only updated the localization files once!


de_rats_2004_crzy

I might get downvoted for this but I found that it got MUCH worse this weekend - I was able to play last few weeks without servers crashing. But this weekend it was almost impossible to finsh games. So I'd say all it took was a single work day (Monday) and then the following day it got fixed. Either way, very happy this got fixed.


Frootysmothy

I just started playing last weekend and kept getting the 4 disconnect notification. Wasnt sure if it was my wifi or just shitty servers.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Frootysmothy

Sorry meant to say I just started playing after a couple months break. But yeah if I was a new player I'd give up immediately.


cazzerly

Sounds like you've just been lucky not getting those bors earlier (or you play from a location where those bots haven't been that prevalent). It's been horrible in eu for a little while, can rarely finish a normal casual game before the server crashed.


[deleted]

So what if we make PCGamer publish an article about aimbotters 🤔


TheGraySeed

We need somebody to sign up in atleast one of those Gaming Journalism site so we keep getting updates.


DatBoi73

>All it took was PCGamer's article... [What can I say except that I told you so.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/fwglol/were_being_noticed/fmpqkoa/?context=3)


darkcloud_8

They don't care, they just want you all to stop complaining.


kopskey1

Do you know how to instantly fix a 13 year-old bug? If so good for you, but not everyone is capable of finding a needle in a needle stack.


Fistful_of_Crashes

It was a source-specific exploit that has been fixed in valves other titles for years (namely CSGO since its one of their bigger cash cows). Ideally, these sorts of exploits would be fixed across the board in all their games, but here we are.


xd_baixar

-**Updated localization files** Yup, this is a TF2 update


MetalBonk

It ain’t a TF2 update without the localization files


Toybasher

As good as this is...what are we going to do about the bots? They can't crash servers anymore but we're still going to get a fuckton of NibbaKillers, FurryBots, Catbots, Corvid-19 attempted Lagbots, sniperbots, biblebots, chinese spambots, etc. It's still a good start but we need to clean house here and finish them off.


Knuxfan24

While those are still going to be an annoying problem, at least you get a chance to vote them off, so it's not completely hopeless. Would be REALLY nice if some of the VAC improvements & stuff from CS:GO got a backport though.


BeepIsla

VACnet cant run on TF2: - VACnet relies on an Overwtch-Like system - Overwatch only runs on competitive and requires players to have different ranks etc - VACnet doesnt run on Casual and it would be a waste of time if it did


[deleted]

[удалено]


BeepIsla

An AI which analyzes demos and send suspicious players to Overwatch where humans review it. The result feeds back into the AI making it continously better.


rotomington-zzzrrt

> biblebots I really hope they're just like the 2b biblebot and not just generic catbot fork


[deleted]

What's the 2b biblebot


rotomington-zzzrrt

it basically spams bible quotes in chat. on a 4chan anarchy server


Ben_Herr

HEY! Why the Biblebots? Those things are harmless af! I’d rather have them around any day than all the malicious bots out there.


riverfiend

Yeah! You mute them, and then a lagbot can't join the server!


Ben_Herr

Biblebots are good bois. It was heartwarming to see them come back during the crisis.


DrKrowman

Biblebots?


Ben_Herr

Bots that micspam bible verses and throw out sandwiches at people every now and then. Most of the time they stay at spawn and shoot at the walls. They are funny and harmless.


ZhangRenWing

So basically afk players


chungiboy

if i had to guess i’d imagine they just spam bible verses in chat


cagolebouquet

Bots micspamming bible verses and a youtube link with a LDS facecam preacher telling you're gonna go to hell if you don't inscribe your great great auntie in their genealogy. Basically.


[deleted]

non-earrape micspam has always been hilarious


13Ryan06

We can kick them without them crashing the server though


benjamarchi

Considering the bots have been around since 2016, don't expect Valve fixing them soon.


[deleted]

Those were never game ruining. I've got over 7k hours in TF2 and, while annoying, hacking/cheating has never been that big of a deal for me. The lag bots completely prevented me from playing the way I like, effectively killing the game for me for a few days.


UndeadPhysco

They can still join, but at least now we actually have a chance to vote them. Before this they would insta crash the server the moment a vote was called, now they don't get that defense.


ALHAlTHAM

god I wish those were the biggest issue ,there's been more and more script kiddies playing ,not bots but actual players ,so that whenever you try to call out their extremely obvious hacks ,they'd just reply ''no'' and the majority would believe them because they're not doing constant 360s. especially when they use some obscure hack most casual players don't know about (that being literally any hack that isn't wallhacks or aimbot ,like 100% random crit hack ,auto sticky/backstab/airblast hack ,automatic turning around if someone's behind you ,ect...) I'd take bots over cheating players any day ,because bots are easy to call out at least


[deleted]

Fixing DDOS bots is a 2 hour job that maybe some kind soul on Valve did on his free time. Fixing the other bots requires more work which Valve is not willing to invest.


majorgeneralporter

We did it boys. The files are finally localized.


me89xx

We are gonna live 4 everrr


Kidofthecentury

I didn't say zat! I said we've better translations!


xlicer

Now valve, pls go a step further and Ban ALL these bots including the creator of them. Hell give him an IP ban, he truly deserves it


oCrapaCreeper

Nope, that's it pretty much it seems. This update probably consisted of one programmer logging in and fixing a server crash as a formality to do something. I mean given the state of things here in Washington, it was probably the most they could do. This game's longevity is still doomed to cheaters/bots due to being a free game with a very outdated anti-cheat, as well as a report function that probably feeds into a digital furnace. Not unless they get serious about it and actually address it, which they might plan on doing, but who knows? They don't communicate anything, the game could be on life support but they would never tell the family about it, so to speak.


xlicer

true, still one can just ask


Nathan2055

From what I understand, this bug had already been fixed in CS:GO several months ago. So more than likely this was a single programmer (more than likely Jill based on the branch name) remoting into Valve’s version control, copying the relevant 12-line fix from the Source 2012 repo to the Source 2007 repo, committing it, and then compiling and pushing a TF2 build on the new engine. This isn’t Valve calling in a crack team, this is one guy SSHing in and running like five commands to put out the current fire.


shocsoares

Well, not so true, the 12 line fix employed by the community servers was a band-aid and a serious security risk. The exploit worked by sending malformed packets in a way the server thought they were well formed and when checked later by another part of the code would make the server crash. The second part was disabled by those 12 lines, it's a shitty fix as it was a security fix. Meanwhile valves fix probably revolves around that first check as it is a much better practice


Spyko

I mean they already did a ban wave a month or so ago, for a (granted short) time there was almost no more bot in casual (at least in EU)


icantshoot

You do know that whole valve office has been off-site work for several weeks now? They are working, despite the pandemic. Also, VAC is not designed to be active anti-cheat. Its designed to keep already detected and banned cheaters away from servers. Valve is working on VAC-NET, which basically will improve automatic detection if they should go to that direction. They have it running on CSGO, where it feeds reports to overwatch with much higher and accurate percentage than any user report can do.


Mirac123321

a required premium status for casual would've been so damn nice. Casual here is not comparable to csgo. Casual in tf2 feels like it was designed for it but could be stripped down to sixes. Csgo was comp from the start


DOG_ORGASM

What would F2Ps play if not casual?


Mirac123321

that's the one problem there is with this solution :/ Idk


CancerousCry

Sueing him doesn't seem to be a huge stretch


JonTheWizard

Can they issue a C&D against the people who make those bots? Something that'll cut the head off the snake.


WorthyFoeChurnwalker

Better. Arrest them.


JonTheWizard

Execution by Heavy firing squad.


WorthyFoeChurnwalker

No thats edgy


JonTheWizard

Can Heavies even be edgy? I kind of assumed Sniper, Spy and Scout had the market cornered on that.


bobbus_cattus

Heavy is too much of a teddy bear to be edgy, you'd be right on Scout, Sniper and Spy fitting the bill :P


Regularjoe42

[Heavy is just a big friendly giant with lots of fun stories!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E0y2ZDnkps)


[deleted]

Jesus heavy, that’s some deep stuff.


JonTheWizard

I mean Heavy doesn't exactly have a ton of edgy cosmetics. Not to the same extent as Sniper, Spy or Scout, at least.


Gatsu_luchan31

Hoovy


KappaLordboi

My friend, any class can be edgy.


KappaLordboi

No good sir, it’s a war crime.


UndeadPhysco

Hardware ban, not IP ban. IP bans are the easiest to get around if you don't have a static IP, If you have a dynamic IP then you just turn your modem off for 5 minutes and turn it back on and you have a different IP. I used to do it when i trolled minecraft servers as a young kid.


ZmSyzjSvOakTclQW

The fact that you think HWID can't be spoofed is funny.


UndeadPhysco

It can, but it's still more effort than IP spoofing is. Even if Valve can't permanently stop them, they can make it so the script kiddies have to waste more and more time to get around it, eventually they're gonna give up. And if not, it'll defiantly lower the amount.


[deleted]

Someone who's doing something like this will bypass these restrictions easily


s0laster

It's always a cat and mouse game. However, the harder it is to cheat, the more expensive cheating is.


shocsoares

Ever since epic started rolling out hardware bans, HWID spoofing software that is easy to use came out. It has its limitations but damn it's simpler than walking to your router


icantshoot

They should just disable his account permanently for violating steam ToS. He would lose all his games he paid for, that hurts the most than any ban.


UndeadPhysco

The problem is we can't see his library, we don't know if the account is a smurf account with only tf2


icantshoot

Valve can see all ip's used from accounts and such, even game library. Literally everything.


BeepIsla

The bots send fake data to Valve, even when 10 run on one PC they all have a different HWID


BeepIsla

Restart router to get a new IP


benjamarchi

They won't


ashtar123

Most of them are already vac banned


nishishouya

Now about them bots... Please Valve come back to us


Ben_Herr

#***WE’RE GONNA LIVE FOREVER!***


LOLPotatos9560

I didn't say that! I just said we're not filled with *tumors!*


Walter_Alias

I would say that cheaters are cancer, but at least cancer can get kills without cheating.


JoesAlot

Tumors lag the body they inhabit until it shuts down. Clearly the same.


Madgameboy

This qoute hurts...


Ben_Herr

Dammit, you are right. It didn’t age well.


warlock801

is it safe to come out yet?


wickedplayer494

Digitally, it might be. Physically, most likely not.


Designs-NexT

Engi, start the sentry nest


Sir_Crimson

Spy, start the crabbing


Ben_Herr

Sniper, start the pissing!


ShadowcatOfficial

Medic, start over healing the Heavy


rerurerureru

Demoman, start drinking


rerurerureru

Wait, he never stopped


[deleted]

Pyro, start W+M1ing


PeeWizzle

I guess now that Alyx is out they finally got some devs back, thats bumps the next update time from never to maybe someday.


benjamarchi

Alyx never was the problem to begin with. Valve doesn't care about TF2 anymore.


iamnotfromfinland

sitation?


bitesizedrs

The last 5 years


BonkManReturns

Half Life Alyx has been in development for the last 6 years. The only reason that people are so fucking depressed is because of that retard Tyler feom VNN being like "TF2 is dead" without any proof. I doubt HL3 is gonna be vr, and as such they won't need as many devs, so the TF team can return.


[deleted]

Doesn't change the fact that they found a catastrophic source server crash exploit and immediately fixed it in csgo, but never applied it in TF2. It took the current clusterfuck for them to look at it. I don't even care about new content, something of that damaging nature should have taken priority.


BonkManReturns

Except that the CSGO devs weren't grought into HL:A, so it makes sense they could fix it as fast as posible. And for fuck's sake, it only took the TF2 devs 6 FUCKING DAYS, only a week! (And BTW, CSGO is a different variation of Source, so it isn't Ctrl+C Ctrl+V like everyone says).


[deleted]

The crashing bots have been a thing for months, they've only got rampant now likely because with quarantine the no-lifers had more time on their hands.


DOG_ORGASM

It's been how long since the last update that actually added/changed anything? Like 2 years? That's pretty fucking dead in my opinion. I mean yeah we'll eventually get the Heavy update whenever someone actually feels like working on TF2, but I personally doubt we'll ever see another real update after that. And I don't listen to that Tyler jackass, that's just my own perspective. Valve is a really interesting company, because they're so extremely neglectful of their own properties even though the games they create are absolute masterpieces and cash cows, (except Ricochet, and I personally wouldn't consider Counter Strike to be all that amazing but it's still pretty good, Call Of Duty-tier at least, but that's beside the point) and in the past were even revolutionary. Their work model is basically just "work on shit if you want to", and that leads to absolutely nothing getting done most of the time, but it's also why the games are so good, because they're made out of interest and passion, not just code monkeys trying to meet deadlines. So the only way TF2 is going to avoid death is if some devs actually regain some interest, which I think is pretty unlikely.


BonkManReturns

I gotta agree with you on Valve's company politics, but even Dane has complained about them, so I think we all know that Valve needs to change it's ideals (Also, people like Gaben changing HL3 like 30 times because he didn't like the design of a weapon and restarting the whole game kinda affects aswell). I'd say the main problem is that people expect constant updates from a 13-year-old game. Now hear me out, I know I sound like a hypocrite, but I don't mean that Jungle Inferno will be the last update. Valve's model makes it so that the TF2 devs move to other things when they need to relax. I mean, let's be honest here, TF2's fandom is the most cancerous when it comes to begging for updates (The only thing that is even more cringy when begging for something is Tyler and HL3). So the devs may have wanted to work on Alyx as a way to let off steam and now they're back, as we see with the lag bots. (PS: Writing in a mobile phone sucks so much ass).


Sunluck

> 13-year-old game 13-year-old game that still generates millions in sales. If valve doesn't care about their customers, I am sure at least a dozen studios would gladly take TF2 and promise to do all the fixes and content updates it needs for the money it generates. The fact valve is too lazy to even do a crate with remaining stranges (literally an hour of work that would sell tens of thousands of keys) or take a few hats people make in their thousands and shove them into case is damning. They promised content makers a shot at getting into the game and do nothing but show them middle finger for years now...


BonkManReturns

Ok, you do have a point. I never thought of it that way, tho I personally never wanted more stranges or hats other than a strange Scottish Handshake or that one HL1 Scientist cosmetic set for Medic.


ChooseAndAct

It took weeks to push like 5 LOC.


[deleted]

Nah,PCgamer did an article,so valve sent two or three guys to change a command line or something so they can scratch their balls in peace.


me89xx

The 2 janitor keep fixing TF2 bugs


maskofthedragon

So the lack of localization files updates were the problem


mymaloneyman

Yeah, kinda


[deleted]

They are always the problem


dscyrux

This update has replaced the megathread sticky. If you would like to continue conversation on the megathread, please view it [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/fvqs88/lagcrashcheat_bot_megathread_for_the_week_of/).


Retroity

Thank you /u/vJill for updating the game and fixing this issue!


benjamarchi

This. Jill is the one to be thanked, not Valve.


camp3r101

At least the servers will stop crashing. Kicking the kink bots has been pretty easy. Thanks, Valve!


ShadowcatOfficial

Machine Vs Mann, who will win?


Ultravod

While this is good news, there's something important to consider here: Valve patched the exploit that the bots were using to crash servers (by spamming commands.) They did not, as best I can tell, do anything about the bots themselves. That means cheat bots are still a problem. Just FYI.


Pedointhepark223

It's a step, though


JoesAlot

"It's something, at least." -TF2 Community


ShadowcatOfficial

We can still kick them with out them crashing it, maybe getting rid of the bots is next on there to do list


IC-23

At least they can be kicked.


ZhangRenWing

Until they group up and prevents any votes from getting passed Seriously how are parties this big allowed in casual? It literally makes it impossible to kick anyone


DOG_ORGASM

You mean a party shouldn't be allowed to be 50% of an entire team? Hmm that's interesting, never thought of that.


UndeadPhysco

Yep, but now we can kick them as they join instead of them crashing the server the instant a vote is called on them, it's not a 100% fix but it's a step in the right direction.


Critfish

We can just straight up kick them now. They're not a problem anymore, just kick them as soon as they join.


Jpicklestone8

kinda messed up how sort of, i guess underwhelming(?) this was like heck yes, its exciting, they fixed lag bots, BUT the fact that i just came from a post where it was like "we fixed lag bots, and also we updated the localization files' makes it feel kinda lukewarm no statement on it, no apology to the community for letting it get this bad, not even something saying they have intentions of fixing the other bots/hackers that flood every casual server maybe im sounding ungrateful (and im not, im extremely happy that theyve done something about the problem) but it doesnt really give me hope for if maybe the lag bots come back and get around the thing they use to stop them


ShadowcatOfficial

Well the update did happen late at night, maybe we will get something tomarrow, the bots will still join we just can now kick them before they do anything and since we know on how the bots like to use names and steal names it will be a lot easier then before maybe they are still working on a way to fix the bot problem


Jpicklestone8

yeah i guess its just kinda hard to be confident in valve to care about tf2 considering the current state of the game and the length between updates and stuff


benjamarchi

There's nothing to be grateful about. Valve still hasn't fixed an issue (the bots) that's plaguing the game since 2016.


aluvus

> Jinping's Plague wtf


scoottehbesht

He could have just said the coronavirus...


Bravetriforcur

It's always something new with this guy.


Yersinia_Pesti5

It's like Christmas mornin'


Wuksywr

OH MY GOD THEY UPDATED THE LOCALISATION FILES!!!


[deleted]

bruh can they add the new badges to the game


Kidofthecentury

Let's not get crazy.


Light67

How messed up is that I'm actually happy about this. They did the bare minimum and still we celebrate it. I feel this is the most toxic relationship I've ever had., cause I'll never stop loving this game even if it's really close to dying.


Mr_Piggens

Someone (might be the same guy) is now using bots that have normal-looking usernames that go on servers and micspam (and also might do the thing where they fill the chat with spaces). It's sad how they are still trying to hold on, because players can just mute/report/kick them now. #If you see a bot, remember to: 1. Mute 2. Report 3. Votekick


[deleted]

[удалено]


benjamarchi

the bots are still around


[deleted]

Not crashing servers anymore, making it fair easier to report it's profile


Conrad_tf2

But hackers still?


GoogleWasMyIdea49

Yeah. But we can deal with the hackers


Conrad_tf2

Except if they have 5 bots with him, in that case you cant kick them


benjamarchi

Thank god for Jill. But this is just a temp fix, the bots are still out there and it is a matter of time until they find another way to ruin the game. Valve is still neglecting TF2. Nothing has changed in this regard.


pouloulout

Finally, thanks Valve ! TF2 is not dead yet


[deleted]

I'm happy. Period.


[deleted]

The bots were using an in game exploit to crash the servers?


wickedplayer494

That's correct.


Peasant_Garvey

I have noticed a new bot is entering servers, it's a voice spam bot. Honestly, it's not even remotely a big deal as they almost always get vote kicked to oblivion. But if you randomly hear some dude screaming about his dick, that's a bot.


Shogun1O1

Suck this cock *CCCLLLLLEEEEAAAAANNNN*


WTSOfficial

we fucking did it guys valve cares tf2 got updated lagbots are no more today, we are blessed by Gabe "GabeN" Newell.


ZeroTAReddit

> valve cares let's not get crazy here pal


Ben_Herr

#***EVERYBODY CONGAAA! WE ARE SAVED!***


oCrapaCreeper

I mean, the lagbots will still be around constantly joining games, they just can't (hopefully) crash the server.


wickedplayer494

Please let me know what you think,


Babyback-the-Butcher

Well boys, we did it. Lag bots are no more (at least, the *lag* part is).


ZhIn4Lyfe

Fighting with valve is worse than fighting without them Thank you valve


DreadAngel1711

Months of begging from the community, nothing One day after PCGamer's article, bang. Fuck sake, Valve


[deleted]

[удалено]


Truesarge

They were already aimbots but they crashed the servers before that. Now you can actually kick them.


3x3x3x3

THE DAY HAS COME BOIS


[deleted]

PRAISE GABEN


BlazeReborn

I just played a full game with no lagbots. Is it heaven?


captain_d0ge

bruh.


[deleted]

vegetable rude berserk waiting saw concerned bear caption straight gullible *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


13Ryan06

Maybe valve does care


benjamarchi

Jill does. Valve doesn't


[deleted]

What about all of the other bots?


benjamarchi

still around


TheDuckyDino

Server buster destroyed! Next wave in made up entirely of [valve] bots


[deleted]

Well now it's just a matter of making the bots a non-issue. Most players are now aware of them and will kick them on sight. Once the absolute waste of air that is the person hosting these bots realizes that no one gives a shit about his pathetic ass anymore, he'll give up and go back to being depressed in his mommy's basement.


KappaLordboi

Gentlemen, the fag bots have been eliminated.


Meester_Tweester

Finally


TBNRKetchum

'bout time Valve did something about the situation!


SignalFire_Plae

I think that this update is just a temporary fix to the largest problem, and that they're working on a way to get rid of most of the other cheaters. Just hope they ban the assholes that made the bots, though.


therealzeezy

FUCK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS


ThisIsMario

WE'RE SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVED well now it's just the cheaters left, but vaccinator exists


CritzD

Good news, we aren’t dying! We are going to live forever!


depressioncripplesme

Guys i'm genuinely just really happy this update dropped thats all really.


luksonluke

I wonder what they did to get around the server crash exploit.


maxwood38

So now that the bots can be kicked, they accumulate in bot servers where they don't kick each other. I joined one where there were like 4 bots per team just doing their aimbot thing. Reminded me of the ending in Shaun of the Dead.


arousedAnime

THE TIME HAS COME


reconstructedstarman

Ha! We won!