Electronic Arts Releases Source Code for Classic Command & Conquer Games
Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the release of source code for four iconic Command & Conquer titles under the open-source GPL license. The games include the original Command & Conquer (subtitled Tiberian Dawn), Red Alert, Renegade, and Generals. This move aims to support modders and the game restoration community in their efforts to keep these classic titles playable.
The source code is now available on EA’s GitHub page, although it’s important to note that the games’ assets and cinematics are not included in this release. This follows EA’s previous open-source release of the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection in 2020, which included adapted code for Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert’s remastered versions.
In a significant expansion of their open-source initiative, EA is now offering the “fully recovered source code” for the series’ first two games. Additionally, Renegade, a 2002 first- and third-person shooter set in the Tiberium universe, and Generals, a 2003 strategy game set in a near-future war scenario, are being released under an open-source license for the first time. The Generals release also includes its expansion, Zero Hour.
To further support the modding community, EA has introduced Steam Workshop support and a ‘Modding Support’ pack. This pack includes source XML, schema, script, shader, and map files for games using the SAGE engine. The supported titles extend beyond the open-source releases, including C&C 3 Tiberium Wars and Kane’s Wrath, C&C Red Alert 3 & Uprising, and C&C 4 Tiberian Twilight. This initiative is expected to facilitate easier creation and sharing of mods and maps through Steam.
In addition to the source code release, EA has shared a 35-minute video featuring archival gameplay footage from the early development of Renegade and Generals, providing fans with a rare glimpse into the games’ creation process.
This move by EA represents a significant step in preserving gaming history and empowering the modding community to extend the life of these beloved strategy games.
