Valve has released what seems an infinite amount of Team Fortress 2 updates over the past years, with most of the recent ones being centered around their hat fetish. Now, for once, we get a hat-less update, which doesn’t include any hats or items or maps, but a few other interesting things.

For one, the new update fixed a number of bugs and addresses several gameplay issues, and on top of that, adds several new features. Dedicated servers can now be associated with a Steam ID, in order to make it easier to track favorite servers. A new vote system has been added, that makes it easier to vote for the next map, vote to kick a player, among other things.

In addition, the new update adds new training levels for the Demoman, Engineer and Spy. There’s also a new system for coaching players, where players are given a few tips on how to attack the various enemies etc. The new update is live now and will update automatically over Steam.

As expected, Valve has delivered another TF2 update for the holidays, this time, it includes a new game mode called Medieval Mode, which is a melee only mode, alongside a few maps, including DeGroot Keep, a capture map well suited for Medieval Mode.

In addition, the update brings lots of new hats (surprise, surprise) and new weapons, including: The Claidheamohmor, The Back Scratcher, The Boston Basher, The Fists of Steel, The Amputator, The Crusaders Crossbow, The Loch-n-Load, The Brass Beast, The Warriors Spirit, The Candy Cane, The Jag, and a few more. Check out the full update here.

When Valve announced that they’ll be selling items on TF2, they also revealed that some of those items would be user created, and that they would split the revenue with the users who created those items. Now Valve has revealed that the creators of the best selling items have already made between $39,000 to $47,000 after just two weeks of sales. However, it’s not that easy to get your items into TF2, they first have to be approved by Valve and the community, and the creators of those best selling items have already won competitions that entered their items into the marketplace.

Prop maker Lee Camara has made lots of real life versions of fictional game weapons for use in cosplay and what not, and this time, he’s done a few weapons from Team Fortress 2, like the Scout Scattergun, pictured above. For more guns, check out his page.

According to PC Gamer, Valve is prepping a new update for Team Fortress 2, which will bring 20 new user created items and weapons. Valve expect the release to go live next week.

Finally, after years of wait, the last remaining class in TF2 gets and update: the trusted, hard-working Engineer. His new tools include mini-sentries, a new shotgun, and a controller for the sentries. Pretty cool gear, if you’re into engineering @ TF2. Check out the full details here.

The Engineer class is the only one that hasn’t gotten a class update yet, so it’s with a lot of anticipation lots of Engie players out there are looking forward to the inevitable update — which Valve hinted yesterday in a blog post. They also got an awesome new comic out.

Team Fortress 2 has had updates to all classes besides the Engineer, and according to Valve’s Robin Walker, TF2 fans can rest assure that there will be updates after the Engie update, which should happen this Spring. He also said that they plan one update before the Engine update and at least one after. Which means TF2 players will have enough content for at least until the Summer.

Valve has revealed a new TF2 feature, called “Contribute”, offering players to make their own items and share with the community (after of course, they’re approved by Valve). Check out the Contribute TF2 page for more details and tips on how to make and submit your own stuff.

Valve has always stated that whenever they release a free update for Team Fortress 2, player count and sales increase, which will probably happen with the latest update, “War”. To help more folks make a decision to buy a copy, they’ve lowered the price of the game by 50% this weekend, while at the same time it’s a free weekend for those who’d just like to try out the game. Oh, and by the way, the Soldier won the War update.