View source for Sniper vs. Spy Update

{{patch info|5|21|2009}}
[[Image:Sniper vs Spy titlecard.png|right|x350px|link=http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day01_english.htm]]
{{Quotation|'''TF2 Official Blog'''|You've met the Scout, the Soldier, the Demoman, the Heavy, the Engineer, and the Sniper. Then, for some reason, a sandwich. But now it's time to meet the stealthiest, shiftiest, most secretive, suit-wearing TF team member of all...

...again...}}
The <span class="plainlinks">'''[http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day01_english.htm Sniper vs. Spy Update]'''</span> was the first two-class patch and the fifth major content pack released for [[Team Fortress 2]]. 

Initially at the center of the update was the [[Sniper]] class, and the day by day progress went smoothly. An announcement on [http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day04_english.htm Day 4] revealed that the [[Spy]] would also benefit from the update. Each class was given three new weapons along with achievements.

The Update was first announced on April 1, 2009, and was released in the {{Patch name|5|21|2009}}.

== Announcements ==
The Sniper vs. Spy Update page officially began on May 12th, 2009, as announced on the [[Official Blog]] post "[http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2497&p=7 G'day]". The update was released on May 21st.

*'''Day 1''': The [[Huntsman]] was announced.
*'''Day 2''': The [[Payload Race]] map [[Pipeline]], the first of its game type, and 2 new [[arena]] maps, [[Sawmill]] and [[Nucleus (Arena)|Nucleus]], were announced.
*'''Day 3''': The [[Razorback]] was announced.
*'''Day 4''': The [[Spy]] was revealed to also be receiving an update. The weapons [[Dead Ringer]] and [[Cloak and Dagger]] were mentioned with slight details via a picture of an order form from the Spy.

There was a 2-day gap between announcements due to the weekend. Announcements resumed as usual on May 18th.

*'''Day 5''': The [[Spy achievements]] are revealed as well as ''[[Meet the Spy]]'' officially being announced. The ''Meet the Spy'' video had been leaked the previous day, May 17th, on YouTube due to a bug which allowed iPhones to view videos marked as "Private".
*'''Day 6''': The [[Ambassador]] was announced.
*'''Day 7''': [[Jarate]] was announced along with the [[Sniper achievements]] being revealed. A [[The Insult That Made a "Jarate Master" Out of Sniper|comic]] was also released that day.
*'''Day 8''': The Sniper vs. Spy Update was officially released.
*'''Day 9 (Bonus Day)''': The community map [[Hoodoo]] was announced along with the addition of [[cosmetic items]].

== Additions ==
=== Weapons ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" cellpadding=2 style="text-align:center;"
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" rowspan=3 | '''{{Class link|sniper|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Huntsman|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Huntsman]]'''
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Razorback|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Razorback]]'''
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Jarate|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Jarate]]'''
|- 
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" rowspan=3 | '''{{Class link|spy|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Ambassador|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Ambassador]]'''
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Dead Ringer|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Dead Ringer]]'''
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Cloak and Dagger|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Cloak and Dagger]]'''
|- 
|}

=== Cosmetics ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" cellpadding=2 style="text-align:center;"
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|scout|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Batter's Helmet|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Batter's Helmet]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|soldier|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Soldier's Stash|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Soldier's Stash]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|pyro|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Pyro's Beanie|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Pyro's Beanie]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|demoman|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Demoman's Fro|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Demoman's Fro]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|heavy|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Football Helmet|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Football Helmet]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|engineer|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Mining Light|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Mining Light]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|medic|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Prussian Pickelhaube|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Prussian Pickelhaube]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|sniper|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Trophy Belt|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Trophy Belt]]'''
|-
| width="60px" style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" | '''{{Class link|spy|br=yes}}'''
| align="center" style="background-color:#EBE7D7;" | {{Icon item|item=Fancy Fedora|icon-size=75px}}
| '''[[Fancy Fedora]]'''
|}

=== Maps ===
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding=2 style="text-align:center;"
|- style="height: 20px;"
! style="background: #C3BDB0;" class="header" | <span style="color: #FFF;"> Name
! style="background: #C3BDB0;" class="header" | <span style="color: #FFF;"> Picture
! style="background: #C3BDB0;" class="header" | <span style="color: #FFF;"> Game&nbsp;mode
! style="background: #C3BDB0;" class="header" | <span style="color: #FFF;"> File&nbsp;name
|-
|style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" |'''[[Pipeline]]'''
| width="100px"  | [[File:Pipeline.jpg|160px|link=Pipeline]]
| align="center" | '''[[Payload Race]]'''<br>[[File:RED Bombcart.png|30px|link=Payload Race]][[File:BLU Bombcart.png|30px| link=Payload Race]]
| width="60px"   | {{code|plr_pipeline}}
|-
|style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" |'''[[Sawmill]]'''
| width="100px"  | [[File:Sawmill.PNG|160px|link=Sawmill]]
| align="center" | '''[[Arena]]'''<br>[[File:Controlpoint.png|50px|link=Arena]]
| width="60px"   | {{code|arena_sawmill}}
|-
|style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" |'''[[Nucleus]]'''
| width="100px"  | [[File:arenanucleus.jpg|160px|link=Nucleus]]
| align="center" | '''[[Arena]]'''<br>[[File:Controlpoint.png|50px|link=Arena]]
| width="60px"   | {{code|arena_nucleus}}
|-
|style="background-color:#C3BDB0;" |'''[[Hoodoo]]'''
| width="100px"  | [[File:Plhoodoo.jpg|160px|link=Hoodoo]]
| align="center" | '''[[Payload]]'''<br>[[File:Hoodoo Bombcart.png|50px|link=Payload]]
| width="60px"   | {{code|pl_hoodoo}}
|}

== Pre-announcement references ==
While officially announced on May 2nd, 2009, Valve had hinted prior to the release.

=== "Jarate: The Jar-Based Karate" Flyer ===
[[Image:Peejar.jpg|150px|Jarate: The Jar Based Karate|left]]
On April 1, 2009, Valve published a post on the [[Official Blog]], [http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2391&p= a sneak preview of the next class update!], showing an order form for the Sniper's new weapon, [[Jarate]]. However, due to the date of the posting, [[Wikipedia:April Fools' Day|April Fool's Day]], many believed the advertisement to be a joke.
{{clr}}

=== Sniper Update Confirmation ===
The next day, April 2, 2009, Valve published yet another post on the Official Blog, [http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2394&p=7 Wave goodbye to yer head, wanker], which confirmed that the Sniper was indeed the next class to be receiving an update. The post also hinted at 2 other updates, one that would be completed before the Sniper Updates release, and another that include some new content for all classes. These were later revealed to be the Spy update and the addition of hats respectively.

=== Sniper Primary Weapon Exploration ===
On May 5, 2009, Valve made a post titled [http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2477&p=7 You better hold onto your head, mate] which explored the reasoning as to how the Sniper's new primary weapon came about. It discussed that one of the main reasons for the unlock was due to players feeling hatred toward Snipers, as they were the cause of many deaths that were outside their area of engagement. The article concluded with stating that the Sniper's new unlock would promote the Sniper to move in closer to his enemies to give them a fighting chance.

== Trivia ==
* The Sniper vs. Spy Update also brought about the implementation of the [[item drop system]]. For a brief period, the new Sniper and Spy weapons were only obtainable through random drops, regardless of how many achievements had been completed. This was changed back just over a week later with the {{Patch name|5|29|2009}}, which brought back the Milestone System in addition to the item drop system.
* Sawmill (Arena) was the first map for ''Team Fortress 2'' created and released by Valve that contained an atmospheric effect with the introduction of ambient rain; and Pipeline was the first map to take place during night.
* A BLU Spy periodically appeared behind the RED [[Sniper]] in the Day 3 post of the Sniper Update, before the joint Spy Update was ultimately revealed.
* By counting all of the Announcement days, the weekend delay and the bonus day, the Sniper vs. Spy Update is the longest major class update to ''Team Fortress 2''.
* The [[Camera Beard]] can be seen before it was released, listed on the catalog on Day 4, with writing from the Spy calling it "ridiculous".
* As of January 24, 2013, the cosmetics released in this update [[List of retired items|have been retired]] and no longer drop, be crafted, bought or unboxed in unusual quality.
* Oddly, all of Saxton Hales bonus courses all have something to do with being drunk

== Update gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sniper vs. Spy Update Day 1.png|'''Day 1.''' The [[Huntsman]] was announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_2.png|'''Day 2.''' [[Payload Race]] game mode, [[Pipeline]], [[Nucleus]] and [[Sawmill]] maps were announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_3.png|'''Day 3.''' The [[Razorback]] was announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_4.png|'''Day 4.''' The [[Cloak and Dagger]] and the [[Dead Ringer]] were announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_5.png|'''Day 5.''' [[Meet the Spy]] and the [[Spy achievements]] were announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_6.png|'''Day 6.''' The [[Ambassador]] was announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_7.png|'''Day 7.''' [[Jarate]] and the [[Sniper achievements]] were announced.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_8.png|'''Day 8.''' The Update was released.
File:Sniper_vs._Spy_Update_Day_9.png|'''Bonus day''' Release of the first 9 [[Hats]] and [[Hoodoo]] becomes an official map.
File:Spy sniper free weekend 1 popup.jpg|First Steam popup advertising the ''Team Fortress 2'' Sniper vs. Spy free weekend.
File:Spy sniper free weekend 2 popup.jpg|Second Steam popup advertising the ''Team Fortress 2'' Sniper vs. Spy free weekend.
</gallery>

== External links ==
* [http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/ Sniper vs. Spy Update page]
* [http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day05_english.htm Spy achievements]
* [http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day07_english.htm Sniper achievements]

[[Category:Major updates]]
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