Epic Games, the minds behind Unreal, have granted the fan site OldUnreal the rights to host and share free versions of the classic games Unreal from 1998 and Unreal Tournament from 1999 on The Internet Archive.
The Impact of Unreal
Unreal, which debuted in 1998, was not just a game, but the first showcase of the Unreal engine. It was revolutionary at the time, with its stunning graphics, engaging gameplay, and smart enemy AI that provides a real challenge, especially at higher difficulty levels. This game, along with Half-Life—also released that year—set the standard for First Person Shooters (FPS) for many years to come.
The Rise of Unreal Tournament
Following that success, Epic Games launched Unreal Tournament in 1999. This multiplayer arena shooter quickly became a classic and is known for its fierce competition with iD Software's Quake 3 Arena, even winning the title of Game of the Year. However, Epic Games has since removed both titles from digital sales platforms.
The news was initially shared on the ResetEra forums, which included a post from OldUnreal's Discord channel. The fan site has developed convenient installers that automatically fetch the necessary files and apply fan-made patches, allowing players to enjoy the game on modern systems. You can download the installers for Unreal Gold Edition and Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition directly from OldUnreal.
Credits to the Community
The news originates from ResetEra and OldUnreal, reflecting a strong community effort to keep these classic games alive and accessible.
