Absolutely, the first versions until idTech 5 were open source and a number of important engines, like Source, derive from it.
replyWikipedia actually has a family tree that's broader than I remembered: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Quake_-_...
The CoD series, Source games (Half Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead), Titanfall, etc.
> the first versions until idTech 5 were open source and a number of important engines, like Source, derive from it
replyHuh? They were made open source when they were obsolete, Valve did license ID IP for the first Half Life but they paid for it. And that evolved indeed in Source.
It's also missing games, like American McGee's Alice.
replyThanks for the share ... never knew so many great games were built on idTech and engines derived from it.
replySource being based idTech is a pleasant surprise.
Very interesting tree. Today I learned that the engine we used in college classes, ACKNEX, actually wasn't an idtech derivative. I could have sworn.
replyMachine games and Arkane studio use IDtech.
reply[dead]
replyThe relationship was different. When Id licensed an engine, they threw the code over the fence, and games that used it often heavily modified the engine for their purpose. In contrast Epic put a ton of effort into making the UT engine a polished development tool for creating games.
replyWolfenstein series and recent Indiana Jones game were made in IdTech.
replyWow, TIL Indiana was made with IdTech
replyDidn't love the gameplay but the Indiana Jones game looks absolutely phenomenal.
replyThis explains the connection: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MachineGames#History
replyI wonder what's happening to MachineGames...
Not sure if I'd call that outside Id as its all Zenimax.
replyWolfenstein is great lore and art
replyAnd ran like melted butter. What a great engine.
replyThe newer stuff? That's what I think is great like New Colossus from a visual perspective
replyEvery single Call of Duty disc since at least CoD 3 has had "This product contains software technology licensed
from Id Software ("Id Technology"). Id Technology © 1999-20* Id Software, Inc." printed on it.
replySkin Deep by Blendo games, which came out in 2025, used Id Tech 4 (despite its age). Super fun game with a ton of personality!
replyI both completed and enjoyed Skin Deep, but liked Blendo's previous game "Quadrilateral Cowboy" a fair bit more. They're not the same sort of game, but both are quite stylish and both use id Tech 4.
replyearly idtech engines were used in lots of games. Since Bethesda bought them they stopped licensing the engine to outside companies. However, Bethesda games could and did still use idtech.
replyIdTech 3-6 was used extensively by most FPS shooters back in the day.
reply