Steam Charts: Free multiplayer shooter surpasses 9,000 concurrent players on launch day

Team Fortress 2 Classified is a reinterpretation of the cult classic Team Fortress 2. While its gameplay closely follows TF2, its tone and humor are more heavily inspired by Team Fortress Classic – resulting in a more grounded and less over-the-top experience. At its core, the game delivers classic TF2 elements such as clearly defined classes, fast-paced gunplay, and chaotic team-based battles. At the same time, Classified reintroduces ideas that never made it into the original game, including cut content such as the nail gun and dynamite.

The game also introduces new modes such as VIP and Domination. The inclusion of the Civilian as a playable VIP class draws on classic Team Fortress concepts and is expected to significantly alter match dynamics. Developed and released by EMINOMA – not Valve – the unofficial spin-off is already resonating with fans. On launch day, it attracted a strong player base, surpassing 9,000 concurrent players according to SteamDB, and currently holds the top position in Steam’s “Trending Free” chart.

The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with nearly 2,000 reviews and an approval rating of 89%. Players praise Team Fortress 2 Classified for its more balanced gameplay compared to the original, as well as its strong nostalgic appeal. Some criticism has emerged, mainly targeting servers with poor moderation or connection issues – likely a result of the unexpectedly high player count. Still, the game is completely free to play on Steam. It does require you to own the original Team Fortress 2, which is also free. Like the original, Classified runs smoothly on the Steam Deck (currently around $675 on Amazon).