Playing good old Black & White on a modern PC is considered impossible. The god simulation from 2001 doesn’t run on modern operating systems and even with fan patches it’s a real pain to get the cult game running again.
It’s even more difficult to get the game at all: Whether it’s Steam, GOG or the Microsoft Store – Black & White can no longer be found in any store. In short: a piece of video game history was in danger of being lost. Until now!
Download only for professionals
Because now Openblack an important milestone. Openblack is an ambitious fan project that has been pursuing the goal of creating a modern open source engine since 2018, on which Black & White durch Reverse Engineering is running. The first playable version is now available.
Black & White – Screenshots ansehen
The team of 15 hobby developers announces an important milestone on their Mission to save Black & WhiteBut: As the version number already suggests, it is an extremely early version. So don’t expect a version that is playable from A to Z!
The installation still requires a lot of manual work, including manually entering command lines, installing several patches and also having to get to grips with the complex menu. But despite all of this, the proof has been provided: Openblack works.
New hope for an old cult hit
So if you want to get to grips with this fascinating comeback now, you can Download now on Githubbut an existing installation of the original is currently still required.
So it now seems to be only a matter of time before we can rule over picturesque villages again, perform miracles with mouse gestures, summon lightning or meteorites, or teach our avatar creature new tricks!
Black & White holds a metascore of 90 and won more than 20 international awardse – among other things for its innovative design and ingenious AI.
What is the Creator doing today?
Peter Molyneux, who, in addition to Black & White, also produced hits such as Dungeon Keeper and Fable and was celebrated by many as a genius of the gaming industry, came under fire in the 2010s for questionable business practices and a Penchant for NFT and blockchain games under criticism.
In 2024, he announced Masters of Albion, a new god simulation and his return to the classic PC and console business. The game combines settlement building from a bird’s eye view with survival and action sections in which you control a character directly from a shoulder perspective.
“After doing so much nonsense on mobile platforms, I have to go back home,” commented Molyneux.
