unfiaboo
Valve does not want to make TF2 an esport, it was never in their plans, they make enough money off hats n keys n cosmetics already.
I'm just going to respond to this uhh... sentence? and I need to break down each part.
Valve would like to see TF2 become a viable and successful esport, but you're correct they don't want to MAKE TF2 a successful esport in the sense that they're not going to drop a lot of cash suddenly out of no-where. This ISN'T what happened with Counter-Strike and DotA. With both cases they were actually supporting eXisting infrastructure. Valve's whole methodology involves not forcing the community to do or like certain things. They aren't trying to be Blizzard or Riot, paying player salaries and they definitely want to avoid being Shootmania.
Never in their plans? It depends on the sense that you're talking about. Supporting the esports community has always in their plans, buying us all new lambos has never been in their plans.
You're definitely right about the last part, which ties into my original point. We have to show them we can bring in money to the TF2 eco-system in order to justify them supporting us more. This hasn't changed since idk, 2011? 2012?
Community has done a ton, I don't mean to denigrate that, but there's also been a ton of in-fighting and fracturing over the years. We definitely could use some help from the developers, but they have other stuff to focus on.
I'm sure they'll be working on TF2 again if they aren't right now, but honestly from their perspective the balance is pretty good and nothing is majorly broken. Whatever they're working on might just be the huge UI update we need to modernize TF2, they'd be stupid not to do something new with the TF universe eventually. We just need to keep doing our thing.
Casual TF2 needs definitely overshadow comp TF2 needs for the time of the Valve developers. We still just need to keep growing. RelaX about it though, it's no big deal, just have fun and it will all come in time.