One of Valve"s goals with the Sniper update for Team Fortress 2 was to give Snipers the freedom to move in for some closer-ranged combat. Without knowing the full details, it"s unclear if the first revealed unlockable will accomplish that. The Huntsman is a bow and arrow that lets you pin enemies against walls, with an instant crit for all headshots. Full power shots only take a single second to charge up, which is much quicker than the traditional sniper rifle and could be what Snipers needed to get involved with close range combat.

The description on the Sniper update website squashes any fears that a bow and arrow has no place in a deathmatch scenario by pointing out that bows and arrows are the sole cause for the extinction of the dinosaurs. You can"t argue with that logic.

Expect more details on the other unlockables, Achievements, and new maps over the next week. No release date for the update has been announced, but if things hold true to the time frame of previous updates, we can expect this one to hit around the middle of next week.