Valve has released an update for Team Fortress 2 that includes a new game mode. The Highlander mode allows nine players per team, and limits both teams to one of each class. Aside from the update, TF2 also got a few fixes. Here's the full list of patch notes:

• Added new Highlander mode
• 9 players allowed per team
• Restricts each team to 1 of each class
• Use mp_highlander (0/1) to toggle off/on: default is 0
• Added "bots" to the server's sv_tags convar if the server is running bots
• Fixed a weapon name localization issue
• Fixed the "tf_teamtalk" server convar not controlling text chat between living/dead teammates
• Updated the map CTF_DoubleCross
• Fixed the map not ending correctly when using mp_timelimit
• Changed to prevent Engineers from building on top of the shack in each base
• Updated the map Arena_WatchTower
• Fixed a case where players could open and get stuck on the starting gates before the round start
• Improved clipping to prevent people from getting out of the map
• Optimized the map for better performance

Today Uber Entertainment announced Monday Night Combat, a class-based third-person shooter blending "intense combat, finishing moves, and gameshow-like challenges and rewards." The game has its standard classes -- Assault, Tank, Sniper, Support, Gunner, and Assassin.

It takes some nice cues from Team Fortress 2 without blatantly ripping it off, so this might be one to watch. Actually, who am I kidding, it's like the love child of Team Fortress 2 and Monday Night Football, but I won't openly bash it until I get my hands on it or at least see some more footage.

Valve released a major update for Team Fortress 2 today, bringing a ton of fixes, tweaks and other improvements. The new bots also got an overhaul. Check out the full list after the break.

Server Browser (for TF2 and DoD:S)

* Added a client-side server blacklist
o Supports blacklisting of specific servers, all servers on an IP, and all servers on a class C range
o Saves the server list to a file, and has an Import button to allow easy sharing (cfg\server_blacklist.txt)

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With the successful implantation of bots in Left 4 Dead, Valve decided to try this technology out on Team Fortress 2. Although the bots haven't been perfected yet, they hold up a pretty good game of King of the Hill with "simulated human-like senses, reaction times, and tactics."

Valve is asking users to help test these bots out and send them feedback on them. They are only functional on these three King of the Hill maps: koth_viaduct, koth_sawmill, and koth_nucleus. "They don't understand the rules of multiple point capturing, cart pushing, or flag getting... yet," writes Mike Booth of Valve.

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The War has ended, and the Soldier came out on top. Valve has revealed the winners of the Propaganda poster contest. First prize won an exclusive, customized in-game item, second place got a "slightly-less impressive" customized item, and third place took home a "less-impressive-than-the-first-two" customized item. Those clever people at Valve. Anyways, take a look at the winning entries after the jump.

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As it continues to roll out its War updates, Valve has revealed one of the unlocks the demoman called the "close combat kit." The close combat kit consists of a sword and shield, no joke. The sword, called "The Eyelander," and the shield, aptly named "The Chargin’ Targe," come with some pretty cool features. You lose a small percentage of your health with the sword equipped, but a critical hit scored with the sword will result in a decapitation of your unfortunate opponent and a boost in health and speed. The shield replaces your sticky bombs and gives you a better protection from enemy fire.

The TF2 surprises just keep on coming. After yesterday's "propaganda" announcement, Valve also announced a new "crafting" system, which will enable gamers to make weapons out of items in their inventory.

Introducing Team Fortress 2’s new Crafting system. Say goodbye to those enjoyable evenings spent complaining on the forums about which item in your inventory was the most useless, spraying anti-Australian racist hate speech all over Robin Walker, his lovely wife, and his beautiful children. EVERYTHING in your inventory now contributes towards something you actually WANT, and can build YOURSELF! If you’re super clever, you’ll even be able to craft new items before others can earn them the old fashioned way.

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Day one of Team Fortress 2's "war" has passed. The soldier is still in the lead, but today, Valve announced a new "Propaganda Contest," which could allow the demo's to get back in the game, and it allows people who don't even have TF2 to contribute.

Luckily, you can help. Contribute to the war effort by designing a propaganda poster focused on the brave/cold-hearted Soldier/Demomen and his heroic/cowardly fight against the square-jawed/craven Soldier/Demoman—thus inspiring new casualties and feeding our all-consuming thirst for war.

First prize will be an in-game hat that only the winner gets, and it's engraved with the winner's name. Second and third place prizes will not "be nearly as cool as the first prize, but will ALSO be one-of-a-kind items (just not as good)." 25 runners-up will "get the MANN CO PRIZE PACKAGE, which isn’t one-of-a-kind but is nonetheless free."

Gabe Newell himself will also be judging posters and giving kill points to whichever side each poster is for.

Winners are announced Wednesday.

The numbers are in for the first day of the demo man vs soldier war. In 16 hours alone, there have been 2,681,005 kills between the two classes. The soldier is currently winning with 1,390,017 demos killed and 1,290,988 soldiers KIA. The contest will last one week, so demos better start picking it up if they want that class update!

Valve just made a post on its Team Fortress 2 blog. The post simply reads: "Attention Employees...Friendship ends in one day." The post links to a new Team Fortress 2 comic. It appears to be the first in a series, ending quite abruptly with a "Stay Tuned."

This, of course, follows the news that TF2 was getting an update with new announcer sounds. This comic might be hinting at a new update coming to the popular FPS. Sounds like more details coming tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Check the comic out for yourself here.

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