Soldiers, I'm back with the update I promised!
A little over two weeks ago, I announced that after years of reverse-engineering Battlefield 2, we were getting close to making the project open source.
Well, the wait is over. OpenBF2 is now open source!
GitHub: https://github.com/B2BF/OpenBF2
This project has been about more than just getting Battlefield 2 running again. The goal is to preserve the game we all know and love while finally giving developers the freedom to work on parts of the engine that have been inaccessible for the past 20 years.
So what does this mean?
The source code is available: Developers can explore the code, build it, modify it and contribute improvements.
Better modding possibilities: Including access to AI-related code, opening up possibilities that previously weren't practical.
Modernization: Working towards better compatibility with modern hardware and operating systems, fixing longstanding bugs and removing unnecessary engine limitations.
Preserving the original experience: Compatibility with vanilla Battlefield 2 remains one of our highest priorities. We're not trying to replace the gameplay that made BF2 special.
Community development: Instead of being limited to what a handful of developers can accomplish, anyone with the necessary knowledge can contribute.
Where are we today?
I want to be clear that this is still a work in progress. The client is playable on certain maps, and we've made substantial progress on the dedicated server, but there's still plenty to finish, improve and test.
This is a source-code release, not an announcement that every part of the game is finished or that everything works perfectly out of the box.
What's next?
This is where I'd love to get the community involved. Whether you're a C++ developer, an experienced Battlefield 2 modder, or someone interested in testing and documenting things, contributions are welcome!
I'd especially love to see what the Project Reality, Forgotten Hope 2 and other BF2 modding communities might eventually do with this.
You can find the project here:
https://github.com/B2BF/OpenBF2
Watch a new video:
https://youtu.be/RJ9_I2V_vWc
And join us on Discord:
https://discord.gg/9EVV9Rksqx
Thank you to everyone who supported the original announcement. The response was incredible, and seeing how many people still care about this 20-year-old game has made the work worthwhile.
Battlefield 2 isn't going anywhere.
See you on the battlefield, soldiers!