# DevilutionX: porting Diablo’s reconstructed engine

> Builds a modern Diablo and Hellfire port on the Devilution reconstruction, with platform support, bug fixes and optional quality-of-life features. The project documents the original symbol-assisted reconstruction and includes selected dungeon-generation and saved-game regression checks.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-17
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-17
- Original resource: <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/devilutionx-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/devilutionx-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/devilutionx-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Full Diablo play requires the user’s original DIABDAT.MPQ. Hellfire additionally needs hellfire.mpq, hfmonk.mpq, hfmusic.mpq and hfvoice.mpq. The separately offered spawn.mpq supports only the shareware portion; source availability does not supply rights to original game content.
- **Prerequisites:** The pinned source identifies 1.6.0-dev and requires CMake 3.22 and C++23. SDL2 is the default, with separate SDL1/SDL3 options; build documentation lists platform-dependent libraries and packaging steps.
- **Scope:** The background describes Devilution’s use of PlayStation debug symbols, assertion strings, compiler information and assembly comparisons.
- **Testing evidence:** The reviewed timedemo test replays a warrior’s level-1-to-2 session and compares saved hero state; it skips without MPQ data and explicitly selects shareware mode. Separate dungeon tests compare seeded fixtures. These are bounded regression checks.
- **License:** The root LICENSE.md declares Sustainable Use License 1.0: use/modification is limited to internal business purposes, non-commercial use or personal use, while distribution must be free and non-commercial. Components and original game data retain separate terms.
- **License:** The same snapshot retains conflicting Public Domain wording in the Windows package README and Unlicense metadata in the Apple bundle configuration.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/docs/BACKGROUND.md>
3. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/VERSION>
4. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/CMakeLists.txt>
5. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/docs/building.md>
6. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/test/timedemo_test.cpp>
7. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/test/drlg_l1_test.cpp>
8. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/LICENSE.md>
9. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/Packaging/windows/README.txt>
10. <https://github.com/diasurgical/DevilutionX/blob/94433061f847d22863e5d705c398f7c13d7bab85/Packaging/resources/README-SDL.txt>

## More in Games

- [DiabloWeb: a WebAssembly browser port built on Devilution](https://awesomerea.org/resources/diabloweb-devilution-wasm-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Dusklight: a native Twilight Princess port built on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/dusklight-twilight-princess-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Ghostship: a libultraship native port of Super Mario 64](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ghostship-sm64-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [GoldenEye 007: an agent-assisted native port from a decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldeneye-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [ico-pc: a native ICO port compiled from the PS2 decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ico-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days: native PC port built on a matching decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/khdays-native-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.