Unreal and Unreal Tournament Now Free on Internet Archive with Epic Games’ Approval
Game preservationists at OldUnreal have released the original versions of Unreal and Unreal Tournament for free online. Epic Games, which owns these titles, confirmed that this was done with their permission, ensuring there are no legal issues.
Epic stated, “We can confirm that Unreal 1 and Unreal Tournament are available on archive.org, and people are free to independently link to and play these versions.”
The OldUnreal team supports older Unreal games with patches, mods, and new multiplayer levels. Both Unreal and Unreal Tournament are now available for download from the Internet Archive. The OldUnreal team has also provided installers on their GitHub page, but currently, only Windows is supported. They plan to add Mac and Linux support in the future.
– What features are included in the free release of Unreal and Unreal Tournament by OldUnreal?
Interview with Chris Jones, Lead Developer at OldUnreal
News Directory: Thank you for joining us today, Chris. The release of the original versions of Unreal and Unreal Tournament has excited many fans. Can you tell us what motivated OldUnreal to make these classic games available for free?
Chris Jones: Thank you for having me! Our primary motivation is to preserve gaming history. Unreal and Unreal Tournament were groundbreaking games that defined a generation of first-person shooters. We wanted to ensure that players could still experience them today, especially with the rise of retro gaming and preservation efforts.
News Directory: It’s great to hear about your commitment to preservation. How did the collaboration with Epic Games come about for this release?
Chris Jones: We have a long-standing relationship with Epic regarding their older titles. When we presented our idea of making the original Unreal and Unreal Tournament available online, they were very supportive. Epic understands the importance of preserving their legacy and enjoys seeing the community engage with these classic games. They fully endorsed our initiative, which allowed us to move forward without any legal concerns.
News Directory: Speaking of the community, OldUnreal has been known for supporting older Unreal titles with patches and mods. Can you share more about the updates you’ve made?
Chris Jones: Absolutely! We’ve been focused on improving stability and compatibility for these games, especially on modern hardware. This includes fixing various bugs, enhancing graphics where possible, and introducing new multiplayer levels. We want to maintain a thriving online community for these classics, so we encourage players to explore and create new content.
News Directory: That sounds exciting! Currently, the installers you’ve provided are only for Windows. When can users of other systems like Mac and Linux expect support?
Chris Jones: We’re actively working on extending our support to Mac and Linux platforms. We understand the importance of making these games accessible to all players, regardless of their operating systems. While I don’t have an exact timeline, it’s a priority for our team, and we’ll keep the community updated on our progress.
News Directory: This release is particularly timely, coinciding with GOG’s recent Preservation Program. How do you see your efforts aligning with GOG’s goals?
Chris Jones: We share a lot of the same values as GOG when it comes to preserving classic gaming experiences. Their commitment to keeping games playable on modern systems complements our work perfectly. By releasing these original titles, we’re creating an ecosystem where players can revisit them while also encouraging new generations to discover them. It’s all about ensuring that these important pieces of gaming history remain accessible.
News Directory: Thank you for your insights, Chris. Any final thoughts for the fans eager to dive back into Unreal and Unreal Tournament?
Chris Jones: I just want to say thank you to the community for their ongoing support. We hope you enjoy revisiting these classics, and we look forward to seeing the creativity and excitement that players bring to them. Let’s keep the spirit of Unreal alive!
Unreal (1998) and Unreal Tournament (1999) are first-person shooters. Unreal was known for its impressive single-player campaign, while Unreal Tournament advanced multiplayer gaming with its fast-paced action and memorable audio cues from the announcer, such as “FIRST BLOOD” and “MULTI-KILL.”
This announcement comes after GOG launched its own Preservation Program. GOG aims to keep classic games playable on modern systems, even if their developers stop supporting them. They provide updated versions of classic games like Diablo and Resident Evil, ensuring compatibility with modern PCs.