Main menu

The main menu of Team Fortress 2 after the Tough Break Update, with the Competitive Mode beta active.

“

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

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.

Contracts drawer

The contracts drawer, with an active Tough Break Campaign contract.

The contracts drawer allows players to receive contracts periodically, after redeeming a campaign pass for the current active campaign. These contracts may be decoded from inside the contract drawer, revealing their objectives. On the bottom of the contracts drawer, players can see how many of the campaign's contracts they have completed, and how many contract points they have accumulated throughout the campaign.

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.

Start Playing/Resume Game

Play Multiplayer will take you to Quickplay so you can automatically select a server for a certain game mode. If connected to a server it becomes the resume game button. The Play Co-op button will allow you to play in the Mann vs. Machine game mode. The Play Competitive button will allow you to play in Competitive Mode.

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.

Browse Servers/New Game

Allows the player to join or set up a game. By clicking the main body of the button the server browser is opened. When the player is currently connected to a server, it becomes the New Game button to allow the searching of a game through matchmaking.

Create Server

The plus symbol allows you to start up a listen or LAN server.

Training/Change Server

Main article: Training

Allows the player to start up a training level or play a practice game against bots. Whilst in a game this button will become the change server button which brings up the server browser.

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.

Replays

Main article: Replay

Takes you to the Replays window where you can view your recorded clips, takes, and movies.

Steam 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.

View Promotional Codes

This button will open a Steam web browser page to a listing of all your Team Fortress 2 related claim codes on your account. If the player hasn't obtained any promotional codes, this button won't appear in the main menu. Currently the only promotional code available is from the RIFT Well Spun Hat Claim Code item.

Quit/Disconnect

This button with either close the game if not connected to a server, or will disconnect from the currently connected server.

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.

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.

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

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.
The main menu background that appeared during Australian Christmas 2011 (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).

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.