Valve, the creator of popular gaming platform Steam, has recently taken a more protective stance regarding its intellectual property. GamesRadar+ reported that Valve issued a DMCA takedown notice to the creators of a fan-made tribute project called Team Fortress: Source 2, which aimed to port the classic game TF2 to the more modern Source 2 game engine. This move suggests a possible shift towards a more stringent corporate strategy from Valve, who has been known for their leniency towards fan projects.

The DMCA notice was sent to Amper Software, the developers behind Team Fortress: Source 2, stating that the project had used TF2 assets without permission and was being distributed within a game mode for Facepunch's S@box. The notice emphasized that Facepunch did not have any licensed Valve assets for S@box, and therefore, the unauthorized porting and redistribution violated Valve's intellectual property rights.

Unfortunately for Team Fortress: Source 2, this takedown notice appears to be the final blow for the project. The developers, who had already faced challenges due to recent code changes to S&box, acknowledged on Twitter that they were unable to revive the project and that Valve's position against using their IP was fair and legal.

Valve's decision to issue this takedown notice marks a departure from their previous tolerance towards fan projects using their IP. In the past, Valve had often turned a blind eye and even collaborated with mod makers, allowing the sale of fan projects like Black Mesa and Portal: Revolution on Steam. This sudden change in approach may lead other dedicated fans working on similar projects to reconsider their endeavors.

In addition to Team Fortress: Source 2, Valve also halted the development of Portal 64, a project aimed at creating a playable port of the 2007 game Portal for the Nintendo 64 console. The developer, James Lambert, cited Nintendo's request to take down the project due to its dependence on their proprietary libraries. This incident further reflects Valve's apparent concern about potential legal issues involving their intellectual property.

It is worth noting that Valve's mention of "proprietary libraries" in relation to Portal 64 has created some ambiguity. While Lambert mentioned Nintendo's request, it remains unclear whether he used official Nintendo development software or open-source alternatives to create the port.

Valve's decision to take down both Team Fortress: Source 2 and Portal 64 indicates a possible parallel with their actions last year, when they indirectly prevented the Dolphin emulator team from releasing their emulator on Steam. The Dolphin team explained that Valve's requirement for Nintendo's approval for a Steam release was impossible to meet, given Nintendo's strict stance on emulation and their vigorous protection of their intellectual property.

Valve's recent actions send a strong message to fans and developers about their heightened focus on protecting their IP. This shift may prompt developers of fan projects to exercise caution and seek proper authorization before proceeding with their endeavors.