Red Alert 2 in the Browser: Fan Project Brings Classic to the Web
The Chrono Divide project is porting Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 to the browser. Multiplayer already works, the campaign is still in progress.
(Image: Chrono Divide)
The real-time strategy classic Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 from the year 2000 can now be played directly in the web browser thanks to the fan project Chrono Divide. The developers have recreated the original game, enabling cross-platform play without installing additional software.
The project supports the common browsers Chrome, Edge, and Safari. Firefox is also compatible, but the developers advise against its use for performance reasons. The browser implementation also works on mobile devices and enables multiplayer games across all supported platforms.
Chrono Divide already offers access to all original multiplayer maps and also supports various modifications. However, the current version is limited to multiplayer mode – the single-player campaigns known from the original are still under development.
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To use the game, interested parties will need the original files of Red Alert 2. The Chrono Divide website provides a direct link to the Internet Archive, where the required game data is legally accessible.
From Feasibility Study to Playable Project
As the developers explain on their website, Chrono Divide began as an experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of a full-fledged RTS game in the browser. The long-term goal is to achieve full feature parity with the original Red Alert 2 engine.
The project is part of a series of community efforts to preserve the Command & Conquer series. Earlier this year, Electronic Arts released the source code of several C&C titles under a GPL, including Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert, Renegade, and Generals. However, Red Alert 2 was not among the released titles, which is why Chrono Divide relies on an independent browser implementation.
Browser Gaming as a Retro Trend
The browser port of Red Alert 2 is part of a growing trend to make classic games accessible again through web technologies. Similar projects already allow playing 90s arcade classics in the browser. The advantage is that no installation is required, the titles are playable across platforms, and there is easy access for nostalgics without having to deal with emulators.
The Command & Conquer series recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and is considered groundbreaking for the real-time strategy genre.
(mki)
