Unturned releases source code for player-made legacies

Unleashing the Code: How Unturned Developers Are Giving the Community Creative Power

In a move that speaks volumes about community-focused development, Smartly Dressed Games has opened up the vault, releasing the complete source code and project files for their popular free-to-play zombie survival simulator, Unturned, for non-commercial use. This decision is less about proprietary control and more about empowering the passionate community to build upon a beloved game.

“Unturned‘s greatest strength is our passionate community,” the developers explained, noting that releasing the files allows players and modders the freedom to expand upon the game as they see fit, building a lasting legacy regardless of future changes or timelines.

The full source code is accessible via GitHub, giving enthusiasts unprecedented access to the mechanics and architecture that power the game.

However, this freedom comes with clear boundaries. Smartly Dressed Games stressed that any use of the code must be strictly non-commercial. Furthermore, players wishing to create mods are required to be able to play and access all features and content of their resulting mod for free.

To maintain the integrity of the game experience and security, certain elements of the source code have been intentionally omitted, including proprietary information related to anti-cheat systems and third-party pathfinding programs.

While this release is a significant step toward community collaboration, the developers are mindful of intellectual property. They clarified that the current non-commercial license does not meet the criteria for Open Source Initiative definitions, and they intend to pursue re-licensing the U3 SDK under the MIT License in the future once their rights permit.

Since its release in early access on Steam in 2014, Unturned has proven its enduring appeal. Nine years later, the title remains robust, attracting thousands of players daily and continually evolving. Just recently, the studio delivered a massive update that transformed the game by overhauling the California map, increasing its size sixfold and introducing more than 100 new quests to significantly expand the endgame experience.

This open approach doesn’t just unlock code; it unlocks creativity, ensuring that the survival world of Unturned continues to evolve and thrive long after its initial launch.