Source Code Surprise! Rogue Legacy Dev Open-Shares Knowledge

Indie developer Cellar Door Games has generously shared the source code of its popular 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, making it freely available for educational use. The move, described as a commitment to knowledge sharing, allows aspiring game developers to learn from the game's design and implementation.

Cellar Door Games Open Sources Rogue Legacy

Game Assets Remain Copyrighted

Announcing the release on Twitter (X), Cellar Door Games provided a link to the GitHub repository containing the complete source code under a non-commercial license. This grants users permission to download and explore the code for personal learning and development.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer known for his contributions to other indie game source code releases. The decision has been widely praised on social media, highlighting its potential to foster learning and innovation within the game development community.

Beyond educational benefits, open-sourcing the code also contributes to game preservation, ensuring the game's accessibility even if it's removed from digital storefronts. This proactive approach has already attracted attention 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 available, it's important to note that game assets, including art, graphics, and music, are not included due to copyright restrictions. Cellar Door Games encourages anyone planning to use the code in projects beyond the scope of the license or incorporating assets not included in the repository to contact them directly. The developer's GitHub page emphasizes the educational purpose of the release, aiming to inspire new projects and the creation of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1.