What to know
- Epic Games has officially approved the free distribution of Unreal (1998) and Unreal Tournament (1999) on the Internet Archive.
- The games were delisted from storefronts in 2023 when Epic shut down official servers, but can now be downloaded and played for free.
- Fan community OldUnreal has created special installers to help run these classic games on modern Windows systems.
In a significant move for game preservation, Epic Games has given its blessing for two of its iconic first-person shooters, Unreal and Unreal Tournament, to be freely available on the Internet Archive. These classic titles, which helped establish Epic Games as a powerhouse in the gaming industry, were originally released in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
The games became unavailable for purchase when Epic delisted them from storefronts and shut down their official servers in 2023. However, according to Game Developer, ResetEra spotted that the dedicated fan community OldUnreal has given pioneering shooters a new life through preservation efforts.
While getting these games to run on modern systems isn’t as straightforward as downloading them directly, OldUnreal has developed special installation packages that streamline the process. These installers download the ISO files from the Internet Archive and make the games compatible with contemporary Windows machines. Currently, you can only use these installers on Windows computers, but stay tuned – the development team is busy crafting versions for Linux and Mac users.
For multiplayer enthusiasts, while the official servers are no longer operational, community-run servers continue to keep the games alive in 2024. Players will need to take some additional steps to access online multiplayer features.
This move stands in refreshing contrast to other gaming companies’ approaches to preservation. While some publishers actively fight against game preservation efforts, Epic’s decision to support the free distribution of these classics demonstrates a more open stance toward gaming heritage.
The preservation of these games is particularly significant as they represent a crucial period in gaming history. Both titles were visual showcases of their time, running on the first version of the now-ubiquitous Unreal Engine, and helped establish the foundations for modern 3D gaming and online multiplayer shooters.
