TF2 Map Localization

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This page is submitted to the TF2 official localization team and serves as a report on the TF2 Chinese map localization project.

Vision

The vision of this report is to:

  • Request Valve’s arbitration in deciding whether TF2 map localization should be officially supported.
  • Request Valve's assistance in addressing technical problems listed below.
  • Consolidate the partnership between the Wiki community editors and the Crowdin official translators.

Project History

Note: The time periods provided below could be inaccurate.
Stage 1 - STS period (- 2022)

The TF2 Map Localization project originally stemmed from the Steam Translation Server, where some experienced community contributors hoped that Team Fortress 2 could, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Left 4 Dead 2, provide localized map names for its Chinese players.

Before TF2's translation platform migrated from STS to Crowdin, the implemented Chinese map names were limited, primarily focusing on event maps. The earliest ones were added in October 29, 2020 Patch for the Scream Fortress 2020 Halloween maps, contributed by ReShine.


Stage 2 - Intermediate period (2022 - 2023)

Following the platform migration, a small team of volunteers led by former STS members (participants: Nafoul, ReShine, Dereko...) worked together to promote the map localization project, conducting discussions and evaluations on translations for numerous maps.

Initially, expectations for the new platform were highly optimistic. However, it turned out that Simplified Chinese received no updates for an extended period, leading to great disappointment among the team.

Consequently, the project was abandoned. Nevertheless, some of the project's outcomes remain on Crowdin.


Stage 3 - Recent period (2023 - )

In early 2023, Dereko attempted to reach out to official translators on Crowdin, as a moderator of Team Fortress Wiki, seeking to revive TF2's Simplified Chinese translation updates by voluntarily providing and organizing the translation proposals.

While the idea of promoting map localization was brought up during the cooperation, it was not given priority, as a significant number of TF2 text (primarily cosmetics) remained untranslated at the time. Due to Dereko's personal commitments, such cooperation was subsequently suspended.

In 2024-2025, the Chinese localization gradually fell into place, with more Wiki editors and other volunteers actively contributing proposals on Crowdin.

In February 18, 2025 Patch, a large number of Chinese map names were officially implemented in the game. However, due to the rapid large-scale renaming of maps and the various issues that will be discussed next, this update has sparked some controversy within the Chinese TF2 community.

Community Efforts

On March 1, 2025, a small team led by Dereko was formed with the following objectives:

  • Resolve both recent and historical translation issues in TF2, providing Crowdin with a high-quality localization file for future maintenance.
  • Establish a channel between the Wiki and Crowdin, laying a foundation of trust for future cooperation.
  • Attract potential community volunteers through demonstrated collaboration outcomes.

In fact, this very report is a part of that effort. We hope to resolve a lot of localization issues for the community with official support.


※ Regarding map localization, our conclusion is as follows

It is unwise for community contributors without resources to be the ones deciding the fate of a large-scale localization project.

While our members wish to carry on the project of the STS, at this point, Valve remains the most suitable party to make the final decision.

Challenges

Quality Issues

Currently, the Chinese map names implemented remain incomplete, with both Chinese and English names being used extensively, leading to confusion.

Additionally, the sources of these translated names are varied, as is the quality - some originate from the aforementioned project, while others come from various community proposals over the years, resulting in inconsistencies in translation style.

Moreover, the total localization of the term "ÜberCharge", as well as the lack of updates for important texts such as weapon descriptions, have also been subjects of controversy.


※ Our team is committed to conducting a comprehensive review of translation quality issues.

If Valve is willing to support us by resolving the upcoming Technical Issues, we, in turn, will continuously provide map localizations that are superior in quality and consistent in style.

Otherwise, we will consider it as Valve’s rejection of the map localization project, which would regrettably mean having to remove all the already implemented map translations.

Technical Issues

In the following applications, map names remain displayed in English, even if their Chinese localizations have been implemented, which causes confusion.

We sincerely hope that supporting the display of Chinese names in the aforementioned applications (at least the first two) would not take too much of your time.


Experimental Plan (For Reference Only)

Furthermore, inspired by our experience on the Wiki, we have experimented with a hybrid approach as a creative solution by manually editing the localization file.

Like: 佣兵公园(Mercenary Park)

However, this method has not performed well in many cases, and we believe that using separate localization keys to support this feature would be more suitable, which, indeed, may not be worthwhile for a single language alone.


Other problems

1. The following two characters have never been properly displayed in the Chinese version:

  • ·(U+00B7
  •  %(U+0025

2. On Steam Deck, TF2 fails to properly display Chinese characters, whereas Deadlock does not have the same issue.

We suggest considering an upgrade to the free and open-source Source Han Sans font as a potential solution.

Conclusion

Based on the information given above, we sincerely hope that Valve will offer an official stance on whether TF2 should support the map name localization project.

  • If yay, addressing those technical issues will be greatly appreciated. We will cherish the opportunity and continue to provide map localizations in the long term.
  • If nay, removing all the implemented map translations would be advised.

We deeply appreciate Valve’s support for the TF2 community and look forward to any instruction regarding this matter.

Regardless of the answer, our ongoing comprehensive translation improvement efforts will be carried through with full dedication.


You may provide your feedback via @BP_MZ_CHS or other official translators on the Crowdin platform.

If direct contact with Dereko is required:

Thank you for your time and consideration.


Sincerely,

TF2 Wiki editors

Cykrit, Dereko, Guest, Profiteer,

STS members

Nafoul, ReShine