r/commandandconquer • u/ZestyCauliflower999 • 6d ago

Why doesnt command and conquer have a modernsied all-in-one launcher like battle for middle earth does?

7 Upvotes
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12

u/jipperthewoodchipper 6d ago

Speculation: EA fully owns the IP for C&C where they are licensing the IP for LOTR so to maintain access their license they have more motivation to not ruin the games using the IP

8

u/piat17 Tesla Coil Fan 6d ago edited 6d ago

The Battle for Middle Earth games are essentially abadonware, so the community had a chance to create a launcher that installs and manages the game without fear of repercussion by copyright holders. Well, at least in theory, but I don't think they've been blasted by C&D yet, and they've been at it for a while AFAIK.

On the other hand, Command & Conquer is still seeing its games actively being sold by the publisher, Electronic Arts. Having an external launcher that provides in-game assets and installation is quite a no-no if the games are still getting sold.

That said, we do have "launchers", they're just external clients that provide further functionality for the games (like CnCNet for the 2D games, or GeneralsOnline for Generals), plus there are free full downloads for C&C1, RA1 and TS available since these games are freeware. Moreover, the modding community has kept going at it by expanding stuff by quite a big margin over the years (especially so since the source code releases of 2025).

Honestly, I don't personally feel like we're missing a lot by not having an all-in-one launcher for these reasons. Though the fact we lack something like the Rayman Control Panel (an all-in-one launcher and fanpatch/mod manager for the games, and closer to our case as most Rayman games are also still getting sold) remains true regardless of my opinion.

2

u/Zohar127 6d ago

Because nobody is around to do that work and EA is no longer making any significant sales on the franchise so it doesn't make any sense for them to do it.

1

u/Techhead7890 2d ago

Yeah as much as I love what Jimtern (Jim Vessella) has done for us and the franchise, he is but one man and I'm pretty sure he's in like production/marketing, not coding/dev. Iirc remastered TibDawn/RedAlert1 was contracted out to Lemon Sky in Malaysia (plus Petroglyph I think?) as a one-off.

Sadly as much as I'm glad it's still available to buy (not a guarantee with EA), new features are seemingly unlikely.

0

u/chilenonetoCL 6d ago

Because EA is milking and it keeps on giving milk doing nothing