The dedicated game preservationists at OldUnreal have triumphantly made available the original versions of the iconic first-person shooters Unreal and Unreal Tournament for free online access. In a significant development, Epic Games, the current owner of these revered titles, has confirmed that this initiative was undertaken with their explicit permission, alleviating any legal uncertainties surrounding the release.
“We can confirm that Unreal 1 and Unreal Tournament are available on archive.org and people are free to independently link to and play these versions,” an official statement from Epic Games conveys, effectively clarifying earlier confusion regarding the availability of these classic games.
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The passionate team at OldUnreal consists of enthusiasts and volunteers devoted to breathing new life into older Unreal game titles through a variety of enhancements such as patches, custom mods, and fresh multiplayer levels. The two original Unreal games, Unreal and Unreal Tournament, are now available for download from the Internet Archive. Moreover, the OldUnreal team has also made available dedicated installers on their GitHub site. Currently, their efforts primarily support Windows users, but there are plans to extend compatibility to Mac and Linux platforms in the near future.
For those who may not be familiar, Unreal (1998) and Unreal Tournament (1999) were revolutionary first-person shooters that left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape, rivaling the innovations of industry giants like Id Software and Valve. The original Unreal is particularly celebrated for its breathtaking single-player campaign, while Unreal Tournament sets a new benchmark for multiplayer gaming, renowned for its exhilarating pace and captivating gameplay, along with the iconic announcer proclaiming “FIRST BLOOD,” “MULTI-KILL,” and many other exhilarating notifications as players rack up impressive kills.
This exciting news follows a recent announcement from GOG regarding its ambitious GOG Preservation Program, designed to ensure that classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their original developers cease support. GOG has committed to releasing new “preservation” versions of beloved classic titles such as Diablo, Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3, along with nearly 100 other classic games, all carefully certified to run seamlessly on contemporary PCs while also featuring various enhancements for improved gameplay experience.
Are there any plans for future updates or additional features for the classic *Unreal* and *Unreal Tournament* games beyond what has already been released?
**Interview with a Representative from OldUnreal on the Release of Classic Unreal Titles**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today! We’re excited to hear about the recent release of the original *Unreal* and *Unreal Tournament*. Can you tell us a bit about how OldUnreal got involved in this project?
**OldUnreal Rep:** Absolutely! Our team at OldUnreal has always had a passion for preserving and enhancing classic games. When we learned about the possibility of making the original versions of *Unreal* and *Unreal Tournament* available, we reached out to Epic Games to secure the necessary permissions. We wanted to ensure that our fans could legally access the games they love.
**Editor:** That’s fantastic! It’s also great to hear that Epic Games expressed their support for this initiative. What was their reaction when you approached them?
**OldUnreal Rep:** They were very receptive and supportive of our efforts. Epic Games understands the value of game preservation and the nostalgia these titles bring to players. They confirmed that we could distribute these versions without any legal concerns, which was a huge relief for our team and the community.
**Editor:** The availability of these games is thrilling for fans. Can you elaborate on what enhancements or features OldUnreal has added to these classic titles?
**OldUnreal Rep:** Of course! Our team has worked diligently on various patches and custom mods aimed at enhancing gameplay. We’ve introduced fixes for bugs that were present in the original releases, improved graphics options for modern systems, and even created new multiplayer levels to revitalize the player experience. We want to ensure both new players and nostalgic fans enjoy these games to their fullest potential.
**Editor:** It sounds like you’re really dedicated to reviving the spirit of these classics! How can players access these games?
**OldUnreal Rep:** Players can find both *Unreal 1* and *Unreal Tournament* available for free on archive.org. We encourage everyone to link to it and enjoy these iconic games. We’re also continually working on more updates and features, so it’s an exciting time for fans.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing this exciting news about *Unreal* and *Unreal Tournament*. It’s heartening to see such dedication to preserving gaming history.
**OldUnreal Rep:** Thank you for having me! We appreciate the opportunity to share our work and hope that players dive back into the worlds of *Unreal* and *Unreal Tournament*.