ioquake3.org

ioquake3 is a free and open-source first person shooter engine built on the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code. You can use it to play Quake 3: Arena, Quake 3: Team Arena, and community-made mods; to run your own game server; or to build your own game from its source code. You do not necessarily need to own Quake 3 to get started, since you can also play games that other teams have built with ioquake3.

Play Quake 3 and its mods

The most direct use is playing the games the engine was built from. According to the project, ioquake3 lets you play:

• Quake 3: Arena — the base game
• Quake 3: Team Arena — the official expansion
• Mods made by the community for either of those games

If you are new to this, the project points players to its Player's Guide for instructions and help getting a game running.

Do you need the original Quake 3?

Not always. The site notes that if you don't already have Quake 3, you can play a game that other teams have made using ioquake3. That means the engine itself is a starting point, and there are standalone projects built on it that don't require the original commercial game.

If you do want the original titles, the site links to a page for buying Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena. Note that ioquake3 is a separate community project — it is not part of, or sponsored by, id software, Bethesda, or Microsoft, even though id software released the original source code.

Run your own game server

Beyond playing, you can host games for others. The project provides a SysAdmin Guide specifically for getting started running your own game server. This is the path to take if you want to manage matches, configure settings, or keep a persistent server online for a community.

Make your own game

Because ioquake3 is open source under the GPL version 2, you can build on it. The source code is available in git on GitHub, and the project explicitly invites you to "make your own game from our source code."

This is a realistic option if you want an FPS engine foundation rather than starting from scratch. The engine has been maintained and improved since id software first released the code under the GPL on August 20, 2005, with bug fixes and new features added over the years.

A concrete example

Suppose you want to prototype a small arena shooter. Instead of writing rendering, networking, and input handling yourself, you could start from the ioquake3 codebase, strip it down to what you need, and focus on your own weapons, maps, and rules. The project even highlights community events like game jams as a reason to prepare — for instance, the 2025 7DFPS Game Jam (December 5th–14th) was announced on the site as a moment to start building an FPS with ioquake3.

Get involved or give back

If you want to contribute rather than just use the engine, the project welcomes help. The site lists ways to get involved and suggests following the project on Mastodon and Blue Sky to stay in touch. Contributions come from volunteers, with resources from Discourse.org, icculus.org, and Nuclear Monster.

Quick reference

Downloads

ioquake3 offers downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with more downloads available on the site's download page. Start there if you want to play or test the engine before deciding whether to build on it.

ioquake3 provides direct download options for Windows, macOS, and Linux from its official website. Visit ioquake3.org and look for the Download section, which lists all three platforms. If you need other builds or versions, the site also links to a "more downloads" page.

What you need before downloading

ioquake3 is a free and open-source first-person shooter engine based on the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code. The engine itself is licensed under GPL version 2 and does not include the commercial game data.

This means:

• The engine is free to download from ioquake3.org.
• You still need the Quake 3: Arena game data (the .pk3 files) to actually play Quake 3. The site links to a page where you can buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena.
• Alternatively, you can play a standalone game built on ioquake3 by other teams, which may not require the original Quake 3 data.

Download steps by platform

Windows

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. Find the Download section on the page.
3. Click the Windows link to get the installer or package.
4. Run the downloaded file and follow the installation prompts.
5. After installation, point ioquake3 to your Quake 3: Arena data files (typically baseq3 folder) if you own the game.

macOS

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. In the Download section, click the macOS link.
3. Open the downloaded disk image or package.
4. Drag the application to your Applications folder.
5. Launch it and provide the path to your Quake 3 data if prompted.

Linux

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. In the Download section, click the Linux link.
3. Depending on what's offered, you may get a binary, an installer script, or source code. Follow the included instructions.
4. Place your Quake 3 data files in the expected directory (usually ~/.q3a/baseq3 or the installation's baseq3 folder).

Other downloads

The site notes "Get more downloads here" — this leads to additional builds, source code, or platform-specific packages beyond the three main options. If the standard download doesn't work for your setup, check that page.

After downloading: getting started

ioquake3.org offers two official guides depending on what you want to do:

Both are linked directly from the homepage under "Get Started with a Guide."

If you don't own Quake 3

You have two options:

1. Buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena — the site provides a purchase link.
2. Play a standalone game made by other teams using ioquake3 — these are listed on the site and don't require the original commercial data.

Making your own game

If you want to build a game rather than play one, the ioquake3 source code is available on GitHub. The engine is designed to be extended, and the community runs events like game jams (for example, the 2025 7DFPS Game Jam) for people building with it.

Common issues

• Engine downloads but won't start a game: You likely haven't added the Quake 3 data files. The engine and the game data are separate.
• Wrong platform package: Double-check you clicked the correct OS link. The three main options are clearly labeled.
• Need a different version: Use the "more downloads" link rather than guessing at URLs.

ioquake3 is a community project, not affiliated with id Software, Bethesda, or Microsoft — so support comes from the community, guides, and the project's Mastodon and Blue Sky channels.

You can get involved with ioquake3 in two main ways: contribute to the project itself, or follow its news and updates. The official site states that the project "could use your help" and points to a dedicated page listing "all of the ways to do that." For staying current, it directs you to follow the project on Mastodon and Blue Sky. If you just want to keep an eye on what's happening, the site's News section is the other place to look.

Ways to Contribute

The site does not enumerate every contribution option on the homepage itself — it links out to a separate page for that. Based on what the project describes about itself, the general areas of involvement are:

• Code and bug fixes. ioquake3 is an open-source engine under the GPL version 2, and the source code lives in git on GitHub. The project credits a "dedicated team" with fixing bugs and adding features since the code was released by id Software on August 20, 2005.
• Volunteer effort of any kind. The site thanks "everyone who has ever contributed" and notes the project "would not exist without" its volunteers.
• Community resources. ioquake3 acknowledges support from Discourse.org, icculus.org, and Nuclear Monster.

For the specific, current list of ways to help, use the contribution link on the ioquake3 homepage rather than relying on a general summary — the project maintains that page as the authoritative entry point.

Following Project News and Updates

• Mastodon and Blue Sky. The site explicitly invites you to "follow us on Mastodon and Blue Sky to keep in touch." These are the project's stated social channels for ongoing contact.
• The News section. The homepage carries a News feed. A current example is the announcement of the 2025 7DFPS Game Jam, running December 5th to the 14th, with more information on the jam's itch.io page. The site notes you get "a little bit more than 7 days" to build an FPS, and frames the period before the jam as a good time to prepare if you want to build a game with ioquake3.

What You'd Be Contributing To

It helps to know the scope before volunteering. ioquake3 is a free and open-source first-person shooter engine based on the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code, licensed under GPL version 2. With it you can:

• Play Quake 3: Arena, Quake 3: Team Arena, and community mods (see the Player's Guide).
• Run your own game server (see the SysAdmin Guide).
• Play games other teams have built on ioquake3, if you don't already own Quake 3.
• Build your own game from the source code in git on GitHub.

One clarification worth noting: although id Software released the Quake 3 source code, ioquake3 states it is "not part of or sponsored by id software, Bethesda, or Microsoft." It is a community project — which is precisely why volunteer contributions matter.

Practical Notes

• If your goal is to play rather than contribute, the Player's Guide covers instructions and help; the SysAdmin Guide covers running a server.
• If you want to buy the original games, the site links to a "Buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena" page. The homepage does not state a price, so check that page for current details.
• Downloads are offered for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with more downloads available via a separate link.

In short: follow Mastodon and Blue Sky (or the News feed) to stay informed, and use the site's contribution page to find the current, specific ways to help.

ioquake3's official site points to two dedicated guides: the Player's Guide for instructions and help playing ioquake3, and the SysAdmin Guide for getting started running your own game server. Both are linked directly from the site's "Get Started with a Guide" section, alongside the Download page.

Player's Guide: for playing ioquake3

Use this guide if your goal is to play Quake 3: Arena, Quake 3: Team Arena, or the mods made for those games. According to the site, the Player's Guide provides "instructions and help playing ioquake3."

Typical path:

1. Download the engine for Windows, macOS, or Linux from the Download section.
2. Follow the Player's Guide for setup and play instructions.
3. Note that ioquake3 is an engine, not the game data itself — the site links to a "Buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena" page, and also suggests playing a game made by other teams using ioquake3 if you don't already have Quake 3.

SysAdmin Guide: for running your own server

Use this guide if you want to host rather than just play. The site describes it as the way "to get started running your own game server." This is the relevant entry point for server setup, configuration, and administration topics.

Other entry points on the site

Beyond the two guides, the site offers:

What ioquake3 actually is (so you pick the right guide)

ioquake3 is a free and open-source first person shooter engine based on the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code, licensed under GPL version 2 and first released under that license by id software on August 20, 2005. It is a community project — not part of or sponsored by id software, Bethesda, or Microsoft. That distinction matters: if you only want to play, start with the Player's Guide and the Download page; if you want to host, start with the SysAdmin Guide; if you want to build something new, go to the source code.

ioquake3 is a free and open-source first-person shooter engine built from the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code. It is licensed under GPL version 2 and was first released under that license by id software on August 20, 2005. Since then, a dedicated volunteer team has maintained it, fixing bugs and adding features to improve the engine. ioquake3 is a community project — it is not part of, or sponsored by, id software, Bethesda, or Microsoft.

What ioquake3 actually is

ioquake3 is an engine, not a game. The engine is the software layer that handles rendering, input, networking, audio, and the core systems a first-person shooter runs on. The game content — maps, models, sounds, and gameplay logic — comes from Quake 3: Arena, Quake 3: Team Arena, or community-made mods.

That distinction matters because it explains what you can and cannot do with ioquake3 out of the box:

• You can use ioquake3 to play Quake 3: Arena, Quake 3: Team Arena, and the mods people have made for those games.
• You can use it to run your own game server.
• You can build your own game from the source code, which is hosted in git on GitHub.
• You can play games that other teams have built using ioquake3 if you don't already own Quake 3.

Where it came from

id software released the Quake 3: Arena and Team Arena source code under the GPL v2 on August 20, 2005. ioquake3 was first released under that same license. The project has been maintained continuously since then by volunteers, with the goal of keeping the engine working on modern systems and improving it beyond its original state.

What you can do with it

Who maintains it and how to get involved

ioquake3 is maintained by a volunteer team and supported by resources from Discourse.org, icculus.org, and Nuclear Monster. If you want to give back, the project lists ways to contribute, and you can follow updates on Mastodon and Blue Sky.

Downloads and platforms

ioquake3 provides downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with additional downloads available through the project's download page. If you want to buy Quake 3: Arena and Team Arena, the site links to a purchase page.

The short version

ioquake3 is the community-maintained, GPL v2 open-source engine derived from Quake 3: Arena and Team Arena. It lets you play those games and their mods, run servers, or build something new from the source — but it is an independent community project, not an official id software, Bethesda, or Microsoft product.