explaingit

electronicarts/cnc_remastered_collection

21,360C++Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5StaleLicenseSetup · hard

TLDR

Source code for Command & Conquer Remastered Collection's game logic and map editor, released by EA to enable community mods via Steam Workshop.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Game logic code
      Map editor
      Mod support
    Tech stack
      C++
      Visual Studio
      Windows SDK
    Use cases
      Create custom maps
      Build gameplay mods
      Study game code
    Audience
      Modders
      Game developers
      C&C fans
    Requirements
      Own the game
      Windows only
      Visual Studio 2017

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Create custom maps and campaigns for Command & Conquer Remastered using the included map editor.

USE CASE 2

Develop gameplay mods that alter unit behavior, balance, or mechanics by modifying the game logic source.

USE CASE 3

Study the original C&C game architecture and engine design from the preserved source code.

Tech stack

C++Visual StudioWindows 8.1 SDKMFC

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Requires Visual Studio, Windows 8.1 SDK, MFC libraries, and legacy C++ build toolchain; compiling large codebase from source is time-consuming.

Use and modify the code under GPL v3 with additional terms; you must own the game to use the compiled output and cannot redistribute it commercially.

In plain English

This repository contains the source code for the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, specifically the game logic files TiberianDawn.dll and RedAlert.dll, along with the Map Editor. Electronic Arts released this code to support the Steam Workshop, allowing the community to create mods for the C&C Remaster Collection. The code is written in C++ and compiles on Windows only. To use the compiled output, you must already own the game, available on EA App or Steam. Building requires Microsoft Visual Studio (2017 recommended), the Windows 8.1 SDK, and MFC for Visual Studio C++. The repository is effectively a preservation and modding resource, it is archived without active support and does not accept pull requests or issue reports. Anyone wanting to build on the code is directed to fork the repository independently. The project is licensed under GPL v3 with additional terms.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I set up Visual Studio to compile the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection source code on Windows?
Prompt 2
Show me how to modify unit stats or add new units to Command & Conquer Remastered using this source code.
Prompt 3
What are the main files I need to edit to create a gameplay mod for C&C Remastered, and where do I start?
Prompt 4
How do I use the included map editor to create custom maps for Command & Conquer Remastered?
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Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.