The developer of the sci-fi FPS game Descent 3, Kevin Bentley, released the game's full source code on Apr. 16, 2024.
The latest development brought hope to fans of the franchise that an unofficial revival of the beloved 1999 Windows game will be coming soon. Descent 3 lets players take control of a flying ship that they have to guide through both in- and outdoor environments.
Descent 3 Source Code Released
(Photo : Outrage Entertainment, Interplay Inc. / Screenshot taken from Steam)
All of this needs to be done while also trying to save the solar system and shooting at robots that have become infected by an alien virus. Descent 3 was also later ported to Mac OS and Linux but was considered a commercial flop because it had low sales.
Bentley, who is one of the original developers of the game, explained that one of the goals of releasing the source code is to give the game a second life by cleaning up the C++ code and using new APIs.
They have removed the origins of proprietary audio and video libraries from Interplay, which means that there will be work needed to build a fresh copy of the game using only the code base, according to HackADay.
Despite this, the released source code is from the latest 1.5 patch level and even provides Mac OS and Linux support. Even for players who did not enjoy the original game that much, the fact that some classics are potentially being revived in the modern day is good news.
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The original series also featured 3D spaces and had labyrinthine asteroid mines that challenged many players. Many also got lost in an endless series of caverns as they tried to find the missing miners that they needed to save in order to make their grand escape.
The third game in the franchise revolutionized the series by letting players have the ability to leave the mines behind for the first time. They would blast enemy robots while players were jetting around above ground.
Potential Revival of 1999 Classic
The release of the source code for Descent 3 comes as the game has been available for years on Steam and GOG. However, it is relatively difficult to play as there are no real dedicated source ports that would help it get started on modern hardware, said PCGamesN.
For example, the comments section on Steam is filled with complaints about issues in getting the game working correctly. The source code release could change this by allowing others to possibly make a source port for Descent 3, similar to what happened to DXX-Rebirth for the first two titles in the series.
Bentley had a message accompanying his release of the code, saying that it could be useful for "someone who wants to help make a converter so the old cutscenes work." He noted that it would take some effort to stub out the code so that it complies.
The developer also acknowledged that the source code he released needs to be cleaned up as it was made by a team that was "much younger and less experienced back then," according to GameDeveloper.
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