Celestial Throne Dev Releases Source Code for Educational Purposes

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

Cellar Door Games Open-Sources Rogue Legacy

Game Assets Remain Copyrighted

In a Twitter (now X) announcement, Cellar Door Games made the source code publicly available for free download. The developer stated that after over a decade since the game's release, they aimed to facilitate learning and growth by sharing their work. The code, hosted on GitHub under a non-commercial license, allows 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 move has garnered significant praise on social media, highlighting the potential for educational opportunities and community engagement.

This open-sourcing initiative also ensures the game's long-term accessibility, mitigating the risk of loss due to storefront delistings or other unforeseen circumstances. This aligns with digital preservation efforts. The announcement even sparked interest from Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in collaboration.

While the source code is freely available, game assets such as art, graphics, and music remain under copyright and are not included. Cellar Door Games clarifies that the intention is to encourage 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 uses assets not included in the released code.