Rogue Legacy's Source Code Released

Cellar Door Games, the indie developer behind the acclaimed 2013 roguelike "Rogue Legacy," has generously released the game's source code to the public. This initiative, driven by a commitment to knowledge sharing, allows developers and enthusiasts to learn from and build upon the game's design.

Cellar Door Games Releases Rogue Legacy Source Code

Game Assets Remain Proprietary, but Collaboration is Encouraged

In a Twitter (now X) announcement, Cellar Door Games shared a link to a GitHub repository containing the complete source code for Rogue Legacy 1. The code is available under a specialized, non-commercial license, meaning it's free for personal use and educational purposes.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer known for his contributions to other open-source game projects. The release has been met with widespread praise from the gaming community, highlighting the potential for learning and fostering game development skills.

Beyond educational benefits, this release ensures the game's long-term accessibility. It mitigates the risk of the game becoming lost or unavailable due to platform changes or delistings, contributing significantly to game preservation. This proactive approach has even garnered interest from Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in collaborating with Cellar Door Games.

While the source code is freely available, the game's art, graphics, music, and icons remain under proprietary license. Cellar Door Games clarifies that the intent is to facilitate learning and the creation of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1. They encourage contact for inquiries regarding commercial use or the integration of assets not included in the released code.