Main menu

The main menu of Team Fortress 2.

“

Time to fight! Click to listen — The Administrator

”

The main menu is the opening screen of Team Fortress 2. Upon the initial opening of the game's menu, one of the soundtrack songs will play, but it will not loop or play again until the game is restarted. The main menu can also be opened while connected to a server (the default key to open the menu is Esc).

The background of the menu is a toned grayscale render of one of the maps in game and a selection of possible class images depending upon active Holidays or special Updates.

Main menu button appearances and functions

Top buttons
Alerts & messages
The messages panel.	An example of a Trade alert. The alert box is a temporary box that appears to the left of the message tab. It shows notifications such as trade requests and map events. The messages tab, when expanded, shows a "newspaper" with updates from the TF2 Official Website's blog. The right hand side of the main menu is occasionally used for special update-related events such as the WAR! Update or Saxxy Awards.
ConTracker
The ConTracker showing the navigation chart for the Pyroland Contracts.	Main article: ConTracker The ConTracker allows a player to navigate, select, and track available Contracts. The root folder shows all contract sets presently activated for the game. Selecting a set begins the navigation chart for that set. Orange folders contain Contracts that the player can activate. Gray folders contain premium Contracts for which the player has not purchased an access pass.
Live streams
The live streams panel.	The live streams button displays a menu of currently active live streams from popular Team Fortress 2 competitive players. Clicking on one of the live streams in the list will open the live stream in the user's default internet browser.
Main menu buttons
Find a Game/Resume Game
	Find a Game will expand the list of available multiplayer options. If connected to a server, a resume game button will be added.
Report Player	The caution symbol allows you to submit a report against a player on the current server for various offenses. These include cheating, being idle/AFK, harassment or griefing.
Call Vote	The tick symbol allows you to call a vote on the server you are currently on as long as the server supports it. Options include player kicking, map changes and team scrambles.
Mute Players	Main article: Muting players The Mute Players button displays a menu that allows the player to mute other players' in-game voice chat and text chat. The menu will show an empty list when the player is not connected to a server. It will not mute sounds triggered by scripts or the server, or sounds from a third-party voice-over-internet program.
Request Coach	The whistle symbol allows you to call for a coach to teach you how to play.
Casual
	Main article: Casual Mode Allows the player to play the Casual Mode and automatically join a server with the selected game modes.
Competitive
	Main article: Competitive Mode Allows the player to play the Competitive Mode, unless they don't meet certain conditions.
Mann vs. Machine
	Main article: Mann vs. Machine Allows the player to play the Mann vs. Machine Co-op game mode.
Community Server
	Main article: Server Browser Allows the player to join a community server by using the server browser.
Training
	Main article: Training Allows the player to start up a training level or play a practice game against bots.
Create Server
	Allows the player to create their own server.
Items
	Main article: Manage items Will take you to the loadout and stats pages.
Shop
	Main article: Mann Co. Store Clicking the Shop button opens the Mann Co. Store, which allows players to purchase in-game items such as hats, weapons, action items, and tools using money stored in their Steam Wallet. A current "featured item" is also shown under this button.
Quit/Disconnect
	This button with either close the game if not connected to a server, or will disconnect from the currently connected server. A prompt will first appear asking the user to confirm their action.
Glyphs Bar
New User Forum	Opens the Steam overlay web browser to the Team Fortress 2 New User Forum.
Achievements	Main article: Achievements Brings up a window that shows earned and unearned achievements, along with progress bars for achievements that require them. Unearned achievements have a tick box that can enable the achievement's progress to be shown in the HUD while playing.
Developer Commentary	This menu allows the player to enter one of three empty versions of the official maps. These contain non-functioning bots and speech bubbles, which provide voice commentary from the designers detailing the game's development.
Be a Coach	Main article: Coaching This gives you the option to volunteer to coach other players in the coaching mode.
Workshop	Main article: Steam Workshop Takes you to the Steam Workshop hub where you can upload custom content to be rated, commented upon and be considered as an addition to the game.
Replays	Main article: Replay Takes you to the Replays window where you can view your recorded clips, takes, and movies.
Report Bug	This menu gives the player a fast and efficient option to quickly report a bug with an optional screenshot.
Options
	The "Options" button opens up a window where the player can change keyboard bindings, mouse, audio, and video options, voice configuration for use with a microphone, and multiplayer options.
	Main article: Advanced multiplayer options This button opens the "Advanced Multiplayer Options" directly.

Update history

September 20, 2007 Patch

• Disabled the loading of background maps.

September 21, 2007 Patch

• Removed background map due to incompatibilities.

October 2, 2007 Patch

• Added "Very High" texture resolution option.
• Fixed non-English language text overlapping in a few places.
• Extra options added to 'Game' tab in "Create Server" menu option.

October 9, 2007 Patch

• Fixed loading screen and intro movie showing up on Windows Vista with full screen AA.

November 15, 2007 Patch

• Added "The Art of War" as main menu music.

January 7, 2008 Patch

• Added an option in the Options -> Multiplayer dialog to filter custom game files being downloaded from servers.

January 14, 2008 Patch

• Added new option for Medi Gun beam to the Multiplayer->Advanced dialog. If on, the Medi Gun beam will stay attached to the current target without the need to hold down the fire button.
• Added new option for the Sniper Rifle to the Multiplayer->Advanced dialog. If disabled, the Sniper Rifle won't re-zoom after firing a zoomed shot.

January 25, 2008 Patch

• Added an option to auto-save a scoreboard screenshot at the end of a map to the Multiplayer->Advanced dialog.
• Removed the "Reset Stats" button from the Player Stats screen.

February 15, 2008 Patch

• Fixed stat records sometimes being attributed to the wrong class.

February 19, 2008 Patch

• Fixed Badlands exploits and missing textures.

April 1, 2008 Patch

• Fixed a few instances of truncated text in the menus and dialogs for languages other than English.

April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)

• Added Character Info and Loadout to the main menu.

December 17, 2009 Patch (WAR! Update)

• Added 2 game startup songs (Right Behind You and Petite Chou-Fleur).

July 8, 2010 Patch (Engineer Update)

• Added Engineer main menu music.

July 13, 2010 Patch

• [Undocumented] Changed the song 'More Gun' to be different from Wilco's 'Someone Else's Song'.

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

• Added the Mann Co. Store & Catalog.
• Server browser tweaks.
  • It will now encourage you to add servers to Favorites or Blacklists after you have a good/bad experience on them.
  • The Server Browser now automatically closes after successfully connecting to a server (opt-out via the Options-Multiplayer->Advanced dialog).
• [Undocumented] Removed the "class advisor" and class records from the top-right corner of the main menu.

October 27, 2010 Patch (Scream Fortress Update)

• [Undocumented] Added game start up music "gamestartup_halloween".

April 14, 2011 Patch (Hatless Update)

• Updated the main menu to include 'resume game', 'call a vote' and 'request coach' selections.
• Menu background is now transparent when connected to a server.
• The Mann Co. Store featured item is no longer viewable in the menu unless the player selects the store button specifically.

May 5, 2011 Patch (Replay Update)

• Added the Replay feature to the menu.
• [Undocumented] Added the Saxxy 2011 Theme.

May 6, 2011 Patch

• Fixed a client crashed caused by using custom main menu resource files.

May 9, 2011 Patch

• Saxxy fanfare music wasn't playing on music channel. Music will only play once per launch now and will not play on a changelevel.

May 18, 2011 Patch

• Added an Advanced Options button to the main menu to allow tweaking of many gameplay options.

May 19, 2011 Patch

• Fixed a rare case where users running Service Pack 3 on Windows 7 64-bit with graphics driver version 12.42 saw a graphical glitch on the main menu Options button.

May 31, 2011 Patch

• Fixed the main menu showing through the shopping cart menu when running at 2500x1600.

June 8, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] Removed the Saxxy Awards promotion on the main menu.

June 23, 2011 Patch (Über Update)

• The Main menu now has a "Start Playing" option which presents users with various game modes to choose from. Once selected, the game matches the player into the best available server for that mode.
• [Undocumented] Updated the main menu.

July 18, 2011 Patch

• Added a music clip from Meet the Medic to the menu startup music list.

July 29, 2011 Patch

• “Meet the Medic” startup music added.

August 2, 2011 Patch

• Updated the main menu backgrounds to include Granary (Control Point) and Upward.
• [Undocumented] Mistakenly added Gravel Pit as a Granary main menu background.

October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)

• Added a startup music track from Meet The Medic.
• Integrated with the Steam Workshop to enable the publication and management of community contributed content.
• [Undocumented] Updated class images to be wearing cosmetic items.

October 20, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added Halloween Special main menu background.

October 27, 2011 Patch (Very Scary Halloween Special)

• [Undocumented] Added Halloween themed Class main menu images.

November 10, 2011 Patch

• Added a full moon background for the main menu.

December 15, 2011 Patch (Australian Christmas 2011)

• [Undocumented] Added Australian Christmas themed Class main menu images.

May 3, 2012 Patch

• Updated the main menu message notification system.

May 10, 2012 Patch

• Fixed a client crash when using custom main menu .res files .

August 15, 2012 Patch (Mann vs. Machine)

• [Undocumented] Added two startup music tracks from the Mann vs. Machine Trailer, The Calm and ROBOTS!.
• [Undocumented] Add 'Play Co-op' button to the menu.
• [Undocumented] Changed 'Start Playing' to 'Play Multiplayer'.
• [Undocumented] Added Mannworks menu backgrounds.
• [Undocumented] Added Heavy Robot class menu images.

September 4, 2012 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added back pre-Mann vs. Machine backgrounds and background music to the main menu.
• [Undocumented] Added all robot backgrounds (not only Heavy Robot) to the main menu.

November 2, 2012 Patch

• Added zombie character images and a Halloween background for the main menu.

December 7, 2012 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the main menu.

October 29, 2013 Patch (Scream Fortress 2013)

• [Undocumented] Added Halloween 2013 classes portraits and background.

June 19, 2014 Patch

• Added a new startup music track from Expiration Date

July 8, 2014 Patch

• Added Mann Co. Beta Maps - Early Access program.
  • Beta maps can be accessed via the quickplay menu by clicking the Play Beta Maps option.
• Added a new startup music track from Expiration Date.

October 1, 2014 Patch

• When you mute a player, the mute settings now apply to text chat as well as voice chat. If you want the previous behavior, change convar cl_mute_all_comms to 0.

October 29, 2014 Patch (Scream Fortress 2014)

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu background.

November 4, 2014 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu classes.

December 8, 2014 Patch (End of the Line Update)

• [Undocumented] Added a new main menu background and class.

December 10, 2014 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the main menu.

January 7, 2015 Patch

• Removed Duck Journal event from the main menu.
• Added End of the Line Soldier main menu image.

July 2, 2015 Patch (Gun Mettle Update)

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu background.

October 1, 2015 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the main menu.

October 6, 2015 Patch (Invasion Update)

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu background.

October 28, 2015 Patch (Scream Fortress 2015)

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu background.

November 13, 2015 Patch

• [Undocumented] Removed the Scream Fortress 2015 main menu background.

December 7, 2015 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added a Batman Arkham Contest image for the alert box.

December 17, 2015 Patch (Tough Break Update)

• [Undocumented] Added new main menu background.

July 7, 2016 Patch #1 (Meet Your Match Update)

• Reworked the main menu.
  • All play-related buttons are now accessible by clicking the "Find a game" button.
  • Moved the Workshop and Replay buttons down the bottom group of mini-buttons.
• [Undocumented] Added new main menu backgrounds.

November 10, 2016 Patch

• Fixed a missing material in the main menu.

January 16, 2017 Patch

• Added an option to hide the 'View Promotional Codes' button in the main menu.
  • Can be toggled in the Adv. Options menu under the Miscellaneous Options section.

October 20, 2017 Patch #1

• Moved the Casual and Competitive badge panels to the main menu.
• [Undocumented] Reworked the main menu.

October 20, 2017 #2

• Fixed a client stutter related to the Friends panel in the main menu.

October 30, 2017 Patch

• Fixed a bug with the main menu sometimes displaying two character images at the same time.

January 4, 2018 Patch #1

• Fixed the main menu being muted if clients disconnect from a server while in freezecam.

February 14, 2018 Patch

• [Undocumented] Removed the Jungle Inferno Campaign main menu.
• [Undocumented] Restored original main menu startup themes.
• [Undocumented] Renamed Yeti Park from gamestartup_operation_summer2017.mp3 to gamestartup27.mp3
• [Undocumented] Renamed Saxton's Dillema^(sic) from gamestartup_operation_summer2017_1.mp3 to gamestartup28.mp3
• [Undocumented] Renamed Mercenary Park from gamestartup_operation_summer2017_2.mp3 to gamestartup29.mp3

March 28, 2018 Patch #1

• The type of badge shown on the main menu can now be changed by clicking the gear button near the badge.
• The in-game action buttons (Call a vote, Request a coach, etc.) have been moved to the bottom center of the main menu.
• Sped up the main menu screen transitions. Controlled via the ConVar tf_dashboard_slide_time.
• Fixed the console, server browser and options menus sometimes going behind the main menu and becoming unclickable.
• Fixed a client crash related to the cycling ads in the main menu.

March 28, 2018 Patch #2

• Fixed a client crash on the main menu.

April 26, 2018 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the main menu.

May 17, 2018 Patch

• Fixed a memory leak in the main menu.

Bugs

• Occasionally, the "You are already queued for this mode." alert will not disappear when the player leaves the Mode Selection screen.
  • This can be fixed by moving the cursor over one of the mode selection buttons.
• Rarely, The Mann Vs Machine Mann Up Mode search button may not appear.
  • This can be fixed by searching for a Bootcamp server, then go back to the Mann Up Mode.

Gallery

Main menu backgrounds

Main backgrounds

• 

  2Fort main menu background.

• 

  2Fort main menu background (widescreen).

• 

  Gravel Pit main menu background.

• 

  Gravel Pit main menu background (widescreen).

• 

  Upward main menu background.

• 

  Upward main menu background (widescreen).

• 

  Mannworks main menu background.

• 

  Mannworks main menu background (widescreen).

Halloween events backgrounds

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2010.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2010 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2011.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2011 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2012.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2012 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2013 and Halloween 2016.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2013 and Halloween 2016 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2014.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2014 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2015.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2015 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Halloween 2017.

Special events backgrounds

• 

  The Saxxy Awards extra that appeared on the main menu during the Replay Update.

• 

  The main menu background that appears during a full moon, featuring Double Cross.

• 

  The main menu background that appears during a full moon, featuring Double Cross (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Australian Christmas 2011 and Smissmas 2016.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during Australian Christmas 2011 and Smissmas 2016 (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the End of the Line Update.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the End of the Line Update (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Gun Mettle Update.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Gun Mettle Update (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Invasion Update.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Invasion Update (widescreen).

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Tough Break Update.

• 

  The main menu background that appeared during the Tough Break Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of four alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Meet Your Match Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of four alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Meet Your Match Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of four alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Meet Your Match Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of four alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Meet Your Match Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of two alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Jungle Inferno Update (widescreen).

• 

  One of two alternating backgrounds that appeared during the Jungle Inferno Update (widescreen).

Classes

All possible class images that appear on the main menu are shown below. When the main menu is rendered one of the images is picked. Certain class images will only appear at certain times.

The "default" class portraits can appear at anytime, unless overridden by a holiday.

• 

  The main menu Scout.

• 

  The main menu Soldier.

• 

  The main menu Pyro.

• 

  The main menu Demoman.

• 

  The main menu Heavy.

• 

  The main menu Engineer.

• 

  The main menu Medic.

• 

  The main menu Sniper.

• 

  The main menu Spy.

Update-specific class images

Class portraits from the Manniversary Update & Sale on October 13, 2011 Patch. They can appear at anytime, unless overridden by a holiday.

• 

  Scout

• 

  Soldier

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Demoman

• 

  Heavy

• 

  Engineer

• 

  Medic

• 

  Sniper

• 

  Spy

Class images from the Very Scary Halloween Special on October 27, 2011 Patch. They will only show during Halloween or a Full Moon.

• 

  Scout

• 

  Soldier

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Demoman

• 

  Heavy

• 

  Engineer

• 

  Medic

• 

  Sniper

• 

  Spy

Class images from Australian Christmas 2011 on December 15, 2011 Patch. They will only show during Winter.

• 

  Scout

• 

  Soldier

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Demoman

• 

  Heavy

• 

  Engineer

• 

  Medic

• 

  Sniper

• 

  Spy

Robot class images from the Mann vs. Machine update on August 15, 2012 Patch and September 4, 2012 Patch. They can appear at anytime, unless overridden by a holiday.

• 

  The Scout Robot

• 

  The Soldier Robot

• 

  The Pyro Robot

• 

  The Demoman Robot

• 

  The Heavy Robot

• 

  The Medic Robot

• 

  The Sniper Robot

• 

  The Spy Robot

Class images from the Spectral Halloween Special on October 26, 2012 Patch. They will only show during Halloween or a Full Moon.

• 

  The Zombie Scout

• 

  The Zombie Soldier

• 

  The Zombie Pyro

• 

  The Zombie Demoman

• 

  The Zombie Heavy

• 

  The Zombie Engineer

• 

  The Zombie Medic

• 

  The Zombie Sniper

• 

  The Zombie Spy

Class images from Scream Fortress 2013 on October 29, 2013 Patch. They will only show during Halloween or a Full Moon.

• 

  Scout

• 

  Soldier

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Demoman

• 

  Heavy

• 

  Engineer

• 

  Medic

• 

  Sniper

• 

  Spy

Class images from Scream Fortress 2014 on November 4, 2014 Patch. They will only show during Halloween or a Full Moon.

• 

  Scout

• 

  Soldier

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Demoman

• 

  Heavy

• 

  Engineer

• 

  Medic

• 

  Sniper

• 

  Spy

Class image from the End of the Line Update on December 8, 2014 Patch. It can appear at anytime, unless overridden by a holiday.

• 

  Soldier

Class images from the Jungle Inferno Update and Smissmas 2017, on October 20, 2017 Patch and December 21, 2017 Patch. They can appear at anytime, unless overridden by a holiday.

• 

  Pyro

• 

  Saxton Hale with Miss Pauling, Scout, a yeti and Pyro in the background

• 

  The same group, with antlers and Santa hats, used in Smissmas 2017

Other

All possible images that aren't related to the nine mercenaries are shown below.

• 

  Miss Pauling along with the Gun Mettle Update logo.

• 

  Miss Pauling from Tough Break Update.

Unused content

Content added to the game that has remained unused.

• 

  The unused Tank Robot background image

See also

• Team Fortress 2 Official Soundtrack
• Server Browser
• Heads-up display
• Trading
• Multiplayer options