What is Chrono Divide?

Updated

Chrono Divide is a fan-made, browser-based remake of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. It runs directly in a web browser with no plugins or additional applications installed, and it is not an official EA or Command & Conquer product. If you want to play classic Red Alert 2-style RTS gameplay on a modern device without installing the original game, Chrono Divide is built for that use case. It is currently available as a playable BETA.

What Chrono Divide actually is

According to the project's own description, Chrono Divide is an unofficial remake that aims to recreate the original Red Alert 2 using web technologies. The result is a game client that runs in your browser.

The project started as an experiment to prove that a fully working, cross-platform RTS game could run in a browser. With a playable version now available, the stated end-goal is reaching feature parity with the original vanilla Red Alert 2 engine.

Key points from the site:

  • Fan-made project — not an official release.
  • Browser-based — no extra plugins or applications required.
  • Cross-platform — playable on any device and operating system, including mobiles and tablets.
  • Client-server model — the site says this means no port forwarding or firewall exceptions are needed.
  • Modding friendly — mods can be installed and played with a few clicks, and many vanilla RA2 mods work out-of-the-box or with minimal changes.

Current state of the game

The BETA version currently supports fully working multiplayer, all original maps, and more, according to the site's news section. The client also offers:

  • A choice between classic left-click or modern right-click controls.
  • Replay viewing of your games.

Because this is a BETA and the goal is feature parity with the original engine, expect the feature set to keep changing. The site points to patch notes and a Discord community for the latest development progress.

System requirements

The site lists the following minimum and recommended PC specifications:

Component Minimum Recommended
CPU Intel Atom Z3700+ @1.33GHz Intel Core i5
OS 64-bit operating system (and web browser) —
Memory 4GB 8GB
GPU Intel HD Graphics NVIDIA GTX800 or later series
Display resolution 1024x768 —
Web browser Latest Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari Firefox should be avoided for good performance

How it is funded

Chrono Divide runs solely on donations from players. The site states that donating is not required but appreciated, and that contributions help cover infrastructure costs and support continued development. PayPal is listed as a payment platform on the site.

What to keep in mind

  • It is a BETA, so bugs and incomplete features are expected.
  • It is an unofficial remake, not the original game or an official remaster.
  • Performance varies by browser; the site specifically recommends avoiding Firefox for good performance.
  • The project's own goal is parity with the original vanilla engine, so it is worth checking patch notes to see how close it currently is to that target.