If you cast your mind back to November of 2024, you may recall our coverage of the Unreal community, OldUnreal, which, with the endorsement of Epic Games, released a pair of installers allowing enthusiasts to download the iconic first-person shooters, Unreal Gold and Unreal Tournament, free of charge from Archive.org.
Fast forward to the present, and we are delighted to report that yet another gem from the Unreal franchise, Unreal Tournament 2004, has received a similar revival, thanks once again to the dedicated team at OldUnreal, as highlighted by PC Gamer.
Accessing the Classic Shooter
For those eager to relive the excitement of classic arena-based gameplay—be it a thrilling capture the flag match or an intense deathmatch—you can now dive into the action without spending a dime. The community first hinted at the release of a new installer back in December, sharing the news via a Discord message that later made its way to Reddit.
While the latest installment is available for direct download from Archive.org, it can also be conveniently obtained through the installer available on OldUnreal’s website. Due to restrictions on hosting the full game download, this workaround provides a seamless way for fans to access the game.
Once you’ve secured your copy, the next step is to visit GitHub to download the preview of the latest OldUnreal patch (3374). This update is significant, as it modernizes the entire codebase and introduces a host of fixes and improvements. Notable enhancements include a new SDL backend for Linux and macOS, along with a revamped renderer compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.
As Stijn Volckaert, the project manager for Unreal Tournament and a computer science professor, aptly points out, “this is the first public patch for Unreal Tournament 2004 in over 20 years.” This milestone not only highlights the enduring legacy of the game but also showcases the commitment of the community to keep it alive and thriving in the modern gaming landscape.
