System messages

Team Fortress 2 features a system message system, which allows Valve to send notifications to all in-game players at once. The system has been used to notify players about item system downtime announcements. It has also been used during the Mann vs. Machine ARG to announce the Blood Brothers comic.

A System Message appears in both the text chat area and the notifications area, and is accompanied by a beeping sound.

Present Uses

This system is used to make announcements regarding specific item drops. For example, when players trade items, they will receive a system message stating that they have received new items in game. An announcement is also made whenever a player accepts a Something Special For Someone Special from another player.

Past Uses

This system was used to announce the first drop of the Cheater's Lament to all players who received it. During the Engineer update, a system message was sent to all players whenever someone crafted a Golden Wrench. A system message was also sent whenever a player chose to destroy a Golden Wrench.

Gallery

• 

  System Message as displayed in the notification area

• 

  System Message as displayed at the main menu

• 

  System Message as displayed in the notification area and chat area