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Oculus now owns a networking engine (and will open-source it)

Oculus VR has acquired RakNet and made its eponymous networking middleware open-source under a modified license, potentially making it easier for developers to build cross-platform multiplayer titles.

Alex Wawro, Contributor

July 7, 2014

1 Min Read

Oculus VR announced today that it has acquired game networking middleware company RakNet and made its eponymous networking engine open-source under a modified BSD license. RakNet is a cross-platform suite of C++ networking technology that's capable of supporting a variety of platforms, including PC, current- and last-gen consoles and multiple mobile operating systems. A limited version was already freely available for non-commercial or small-scale use, though developers were required to buy a license if any game utilizing RakNet technology surpassed $100,000 in revenue. Oculus has been using RakNet internally for some time, and the networking engine has also been licensed for use by companies like Unity, Mojang and Sony Online Entertainment. It is unclear how Oculus' decision to acquire RakNet and open-source its technology will affect those licensing deals. Starting today, the RakNet source code is now available for your perusal on Oculus' Github repository.

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