Update: Valve's Robin Walker has confirmed to us that there is now a new way to earn unlockable weapons in the game.
"Items now drop randomly, in addition to the old (pre Spy/Sniper unlockables) achievement tied weapons," said Walker. "We're going to release info on the new system on the blog tomorrow."
Walker also confirmed that a series of head-slot hat items (see above) can now be earned in the same fashion.
Original story: The largest Team Fortress 2 update to date has finally been released by developer Valve, kick-starting a four-day free trial for the game. Valve also notes that the title will be 50% off its regular price on Steam for the duration of the trial, knocking it down to $10.
The update includes two new Arena mode maps, a new Payload Race game mode, and unlockable weapons and achievements for the Spy and Sniper classes.
The patch notes reveal several other interesting changes, including a new community map (Hoodoo), significant improvements to the spy class, and other tweaks to the game at large.
The full patch notes follow:
Updates to Team Fortress 2 have been released. The specific changes include: Maps
- Added new map, Pipeline. Pipeline is the first map in a new game mode named payload race, which uses two carts in each map instead of only one like traditional payload maps
- Added new arena map Sawmill
- Added new arena map Nucleus
- Added new community payload map Hoodoo
Sniper Changes
- Added new sniper rifle replacement, The Huntsman. Instead of a sniper rifle, you have a bow that allows you to move around faster while firing, and fire more quickly than the sniper rifle. Works better at medium range than the standard rifle
- Added new SMG replacement, Jarate. If thrown on an enemy they will take more damage for short period of time. Also extinguishes flames on yourself or allies
- Added new SMG replacement, The Razorback. Will protect you against a single spy backstab, and stun the spy for a short period of time. Comes with a 15% move speed penalty for the wearer
- Standard sniper rifle now shoots through friendly players
- Added 54 new Sniper voice lines
- Added 35 new Sniper achievements
Spy
- Added new revolver replacement, The Ambassador. First shot is very accurate and will cause a critical hit if it hits an enemy's head. Accuracy is poor for a period after that
- Added new watch replacement, the Dead Ringer. When armed, you will appear in all ways to die to the first damage you take from an enemy. You'll be cloaked for 8 second after taking this damage. Upon de-cloaking you'll make a loud, distinct sound
- Added new watch replacement, the Cloak and Dagger. Your cloak meter is only depleted when you move, so you can stay invisible indefinitely if you're standing still
- Spy name tags now show up properly when disguised as their own team
- Fixed a bug that would cause spectators to see disguise weapons incorrectly
- Fixed a bug where enemy spies disguised as friendly spies would have cigarettes that didn't burn
- Fixed a bug where overhealing disguised spies would show the wrong overhealing amount to the medic
- Made it more obvious on first person view model when your motion cloak is out of juice and you are partially visible
- Also made it more obvious on first person view model when you're bumped while cloaked
- Improved the way your disguise weapon is determined to make it clearer and fix a couple of rare issues
- Spies disguised as enemy spies now get a random mask to help complete the disguise, and their target id will be set appropriately
- Spies disguised as medics now have an Ubercharge: line in their disguise target info
- Spies outward facing "disguise health" now matches their disguise target when they first apply the disguise
- Spies can now pick up health kits for their "disguise health", even when uninjured
- Disguise UI doesn't show up in minimum UI mode (hud_minmode)
- Spies that disguise as a player using an unlockable now show that unlockable in hand
- Spies can now use enemy teleporters
- Added 70 new Spy voice lines
- Added 34 new Spy achievements
Scoreboard changes
- Dominations no longer get wiped when teams switch sides
- Dead players draw slightly darker in scoreboard
- Converted class labels to class icons
- All players now display the total number of people they are dominating
General
- Fixed a bug that would cause the scout's ball to regenerate at inappropriate times
- Demomen can now detonate their stickies while taunting
- Flamethrower's air burst now extinguishes fire on friendly targets
- Grenades and rockets deflected by a pyro under the effects of Kritzkrieg will now be criticals
- The Heavy and Sniper now have new custom death animations
- Fixed payload HUD not updating properly if you join in the middle of a match and the cart isn't moving
- Engineer's dispensers now give 20%, 30%, or 40% of player's max_ammo (for each ammo type) on each use, based on the level of the dispenser
- Added -sillygibs commandline parameter which will allow the non-violent gibs to be enabled
- Added a new taunt for the Kritzkrieg, which also heals for 10 points
- Improved the deathcam camera handling used when a player plays a custom death animation
