Rogue Legacy Dev Releases Source Code for Educational Purposes

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

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 study.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer and Linux porter known for his contributions to other indie game source code releases. The decision has been met with widespread praise from the gaming community, recognizing its value for educational purposes and game preservation.

Public access to the source code ensures the game's longevity, safeguarding it against potential delisting or unavailability on digital storefronts. This proactive measure aligns with broader efforts in digital game preservation. The announcement even sparked 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, it's important to note that game assets—including art, graphics, music, and icons—remain under proprietary license and are not included. Cellar Door Games clarifies that the intent is to facilitate learning, inspire new projects, and enable the creation of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1. They encourage contacting them for inquiries regarding distribution of work that extends beyond the license terms or incorporates assets not included in the released code.