Xonotic

Overview

Xonotic is a free, open-source first-person shooter (FPS) game focused on multiplayer competitive and fast-paced deathmatch. As a community fork of the Nexuiz GPL version, it offers high-quality graphics, balanced weapons, and a rich variety of maps. Developed by the Xonotic team and hosted on xonotic.org and GitLab, it supports platforms such as Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, and Haiku OS, and is licensed under the GPL v2 license. Xonotic uses the DarkPlaces engine (a modern modification of the Quake engine), supports 32-player online battles, and offers modes such as deathmatch, team deathmatch, CTF, and Clan Arena. The game emphasizes "simplicity is beauty," featuring 40+ maps, 20+ weapons, and custom server support. The latest stable version is Xonotic 0.8.5 (released December 12, 2023), based on Engine 1.0, supporting Vulkan and Wayland.

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2010: The Xonotic project was launched as a fork of the Nexuiz GPL version, created by members of the original Nexuiz team. After the Nexuiz commercial version (IllFonic) moved to CryENGINE, the GPL version needed to continue maintenance.
  • Based on Nexuiz 2.5.2 (January 2010), bugs were fixed and new features were added.
• Development Timeline:
  • 2011: Version 0.5 was released, introducing new maps and weapon balancing.
  • 2013: Version 0.6 supported Vulkan rendering and 64-bit optimization.
  • 2017: Version 0.7 optimized networking and AI.
  • 2020: Version 0.8.2 added support for Wayland and HDR.
  • December 12, 2023: Version 0.8.5 released, Engine 1.0, supporting Vulkan 2.0 and new server features.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by the Xonotic team, hosted on xonotic.org, GitLab, and Steam.
  • Multilingual support; documentation includes a Wiki and Mod guide.
  • Reddit users describe Xonotic as "a perfect continuation of open-source Quake."
• Open-source License:
  • GPL v2.

Key Features

Xonotic is powered by the DarkPlaces engine, featuring multiplayer competition and customization. Here are its key features:

1. Game Modes
   • Multiplayer: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, CTF, Clan Arena, Domination, supporting up to 32 players.
   • Single Player: Play against AI bots.
2. Weapons & Maps
   • Weapons: 20+ types (e.g., Vortex, Laser, Rocket Launcher), balanced design.
   • Maps: 40+ themed maps, supporting dynamic lighting and shadows.
3. DarkPlaces Engine
   • Features: Vulkan/OpenGL support, real-time lighting, shadows, and particle effects.
   • System Requirements: 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, OpenGL 3.3.
4. Hardware Compatibility
   • Minimum: 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM.
5. Security & Privacy
   • Open Source GPL: Transparent source code.
6. Development Support
   • Open Source Code: Supports Mods and server customization.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Open Source and Free: GPL v2, cross-platform.
• Multiplayer Competitive: 32 players, superior to Quake III.
• DarkPlaces Engine: Excellent graphics, supports Vulkan.
• Active Community: Active GitLab, rich Mod library.

Limitations

• Maintenance Schedule: Slower updates after 0.8.5.
• Comparison Games:
  • Nexuiz: Predecessor, stagnant.
  • Quake Champions: Commercialized.

Summary

Xonotic is a free and open-source FPS. Version 0.8.5 (December 12, 2023) is based on the DarkPlaces engine and supports multiplayer deathmatch and single-player AI. Compared to Nexuiz (predecessor) and Quake III (classic), Xonotic boasts superior Vulkan support and a richer map library.