Indie Developer Cellar Door Games Releases Rogue Legacy Source Code

Cellar Door Games, the developer behind the acclaimed 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, has made a generous contribution to the gaming community by releasing the game's source code for free. The announcement, made via Twitter (now X), states the decision was driven by a desire to share knowledge and foster learning within the game development field.

The source code is available on GitHub under a non-commercial license, allowing for personal use and study. This initiative has been widely praised on social media, offering valuable learning opportunities for aspiring game developers. The project is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer and Linux porter with experience in similar open-source game projects.

This release also serves as a valuable step in game preservation. By making the source code publicly available, the game's longevity is secured, mitigating the risk of loss due to storefront removal or other unforeseen circumstances. This proactive approach has even attracted the attention of Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in collaborating with Cellar Door Games.

It's important to note that while the source code is free, the game's assets (art, music, and icons) remain under a proprietary license and are not included in the release. However, Cellar Door Games encourages contact for those seeking to use assets outside the scope of the provided license. The developers emphasize the project's aim: to encourage learning, inspire new creations, and facilitate the development of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy.