Eric Kranz just sent us the good word that Team Fortress 2 for the PC, on your Steam client just went live. A lot of bugs have been addressed and some cool new features, too. Keep reading for the details:

Thanks, Eric

Image via GamerGene

Updates to Team Fortress 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The specific changes include:

Source Engine

Improved particle performance on multi-core machines

Added FOV slider to Options | Video | Advanced for all games (moved there from TF2’s multiplayer options)

Fixed surround sound initialization problems with new speaker modes defined in Vista

*Team Fortress 2*

Added Goldrush

Added Character Info and Loadout to the main menu

Added 39 Medic achievements

Added unique Medic items:
The Blutsaugher, The Kritzkrieg, and The Ubersaw

Added new attack animations to most melee weapons
Added new speech for the Heavy and Demoman
Added Stopwatch mode to Tournament mode
Automatically used on Attack/Defense maps
Teleporter effect no longer shows up on invisible or disguised Spies
Spies disguised as their own team can now capture control points
Increased force taken by pipebombs by bullets and explosions
Target ID hud is now colored red or blue to match the spectator target
Tournament mode no longer ends matches early if the time limit is nearly up when a new round starts
Fixed exploit where clients could start benchmark mode on servers
Fixed drowning exploit that allowed players to regenerate health
Fixed reload exploit that allowed plays to fire instantly after switching weapons
Fixed flamethrower bug where a player flush against a wall couldn’t be lit on fire from the front
Fixed invulnerability overlay not drawing if the invuln player was previously on fire
Fixed “times used” entry in teleporters maxing out at 32
Fixed rare client crash on level change during control point capturing
Minor fix to stat gathering to prevent players using sv_cheats to easily garner achievements

For mapmakers:
Mapmakers can now directly place the tf_gamerules entity into their map. Fixes Hammer thinking the inputs to it are broken
Mapmakers can now place Engineer buildings directly into a map, with an option for them to be invulnerable
Added “AddRedTeamScore” and “AddBlueTeamScore” inputs to tf_gamerules
Added “SetRequiredObserverTarget” input to tf_gamerules. Force spectators to use the specified viewpoint

Granary
Added setup time logic, and gates to the middle
Fixed an overlay alignment bug on one of blue’s gate signs
Minor lighting fixes in red/blue spawns

2Fort
Added medium ammo and health to basement hallways
Added small ammo and health to top of spiral
Fixed a clip brush exploit outside blue sniper deck
Fixed number “2″ overlay on front of red base not being assigned to the brush face