# OpenUT2k4: recreating Unreal Tournament 2004 in Unreal Engine 5.8

> OpenUT2k4 recreates Unreal Tournament 2004 in C++ on Unreal Engine 5.8 using maps, characters, audio and music converted locally from the player's installation. It builds maps at runtime and implements UT2004 network compatibility so its client and server can play alongside the original game.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game · Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/OpenUT2k4>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/OpenUT2k4/blob/2ac3ed2500db4de0cb03c430acf45c3f8d4bfe4c/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openut2k4-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openut2k4-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/openut2k4-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Unreal Engine 5.8, a C++ toolchain and about 20 GB of project disk space are required to build.
- **Prerequisites:** Playing requires UT2004 game data from an existing installation or the OldUnreal download, and a Vulkan-capable GPU and driver or a Metal-capable Mac.
- **Testing evidence:** Linux is built and tested; Windows and macOS scripts are unverified.
- **License:** MIT License; Unreal Engine has a separate license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/OpenUT2k4/blob/2ac3ed2500db4de0cb03c430acf45c3f8d4bfe4c/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/OpenUT2k4/blob/2ac3ed2500db4de0cb03c430acf45c3f8d4bfe4c/NOTICE.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.