Rogue Legacy in Game Dev Transparency Move

Indie developer Cellar Door Games has generously released the source code for its popular 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, to foster knowledge sharing within the game development community.

Cellar Door Games Opens Rogue Legacy's Source Code

Game Assets Remain Under Proprietary License

Cellar Door Games announced via Twitter (now X) the availability of Rogue Legacy 1's source code on GitHub, completely free for download. The developer stated the release is a commitment to sharing knowledge, marking over a decade since the game's initial launch. The code is available under a specialized, non-commercial license, permitting personal use and study.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer and Linux porter with experience in similar open-source game projects. The move has been widely praised on social media, offering invaluable learning opportunities for aspiring game developers.

This release also ensures the game's long-term accessibility, mitigating risks associated with storefront delistings or platform obsolescence, contributing significantly to digital game preservation. Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, even reached out to Cellar Door Games, expressing interest in a potential partnership to donate the code to the museum's archives.

While the source code is freely available, the game's art, graphics, music, and icons remain under a proprietary license and are not included. Cellar Door Games clarifies on GitHub that the code's purpose is educational, inspiring new projects, and enabling the creation of tools and modifications. However, developers seeking to distribute work beyond the license terms, or incorporating assets not included in the repository, are encouraged to contact Cellar Door Games directly.