Scream Fortress XVIII, Team Fortress 2’s 2026 Halloween event, launched on October 1, 2026 and runs through November 7, 2026. The event added five community maps: HolyHell, Scarypass, Trainsawlaser, Medi-Evil, and Scaredy-Cat. It also introduced the Haunted Hoard Case with 23 community-created cosmetics, five taunts, 21 Unusual effects, and a Soul Gargoyle item for Halloween contracts. The October 2 follow-up arrived one day after the event launch.
On October 2, 2026, Valve released a follow-up update for Team Fortress 2. The update applies automatically when players restart the game and covers localization, taunt audio, cosmetics, Unusual effects, maps, contracts, and an exploit fix. The update was published through the Steam Community Announcements for App ID 440.
The patch adds missing zi_ strings and restores missing voice lines for the Taunt: One-Eyed Punt! It also corrects the Scout Crazy Legs item, which was using an incorrect lightwarp. That fix came from a community submission by Chickenman456. The Skeleton Crew cosmetic receives a second style that was originally missed, and the Autumn Breeze Unusual effect has been updated to resolve visibility problems.
Halloween map and exploit fixes
Valve updated cp_wildcat_event and fixed an exploit that let Heavy and Sniper move at full speed while aiming. Valve did not specify what changed on cp_wildcat_event. The Jack-o’-Potion no longer plays its appear or break sounds globally, and players can no longer capture points while using the Pain Train as a pumpkin. That capture fix came from a community fix by Skull.
Halloween contract objectives were also revised. The previous ‘Collect a Halloween Pumpkin’ objective has been replaced with ‘Kill with a pumpkin bomb’ in the relevant contract.
ctf_medi_evil adjustments
The ctf_medi_evil map, known as Medi-Evil in the Scream Fortress XVIII lineup, received separate timing and contract changes. Its timer has been increased to 10 minutes, up from the previous 8 minutes, and overtime has been removed. On that map, the ‘Kill with a pumpkin bomb’ contract objective was replaced with ‘Get 5 kills in a single life’. This means players completing that contract on Medi-Evil now need five kills in one life instead of a pumpkin bomb kill.
These changes address Halloween event issues and adjust the Medi-Evil experience shortly after Scream Fortress XVIII began.
