Rogue Legacy Dev Releases Source Code to Educate Gamers

In a significant move to promote learning and game development, indie developer Cellar Door Games has released the source code of their acclaimed 2013 roguelike, "Rogue Legacy," for free. This act of generosity comes over a decade after the game's initial release, as the studio aims to share knowledge and inspire new work in the gaming community.

Cellar Door Games Shares Source Code of Rogue Legacy

Game Art and Music Aren't Free to Use, But Cellar Says Contact Them If Need Be

Announcing the news via Twitter (X), Cellar Door Games made the source code available on GitHub, under a non-commercial-use license. This allows enthusiasts and aspiring developers to download and study the code for personal use. The repository, managed by developer Ethan Lee, who has also contributed to other indie game source releases, showcases the complete scripting for "Rogue Legacy 1."

The decision to release the source code has been met with widespread appreciation on social media, with many praising Cellar Door Games for fostering learning opportunities in game development. The move also supports game preservation, ensuring "Rogue Legacy" remains accessible even if it's delisted from digital storefronts. This aspect has attracted the attention of Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in partnering with Cellar Door Games for an official donation to the museum.

While the source code includes all localized text from the game, it does not encompass the game's icons, art, graphics, or music, which remain protected under a proprietary license. Cellar Door Games emphasized that the purpose of sharing the repository is to educate others, inspire new projects, and facilitate the creation of modifications for "Rogue Legacy 1." They encourage anyone interested in using elements not included in the repository or in distributing work beyond the license terms to reach out to them directly.