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StarCraft native engine (sc-native)

A from-scratch native Linux engine for StarCraft that reads the data from your own StarCraft (Remastered) install. Download an installer, and it compiles on your computer.

Download installer (.run)Download .debInstall help
Version
0.1.0 (early release)
Tested on
Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04, Debian 12, Linux Mint 22
Built with
C++17 · SDL2 · zlib · CMake and Ninja
Game data
Not included. Needs your own StarCraft (Remastered) install
No game data included. The installers carry only the engine's source code. You need an existing StarCraft (Remastered) install on the computer, or reachable from it, for the engine to read its data from. The installer looks for it automatically and asks if it can't find it.

Downloads

Self-extracting installer .run

Installs for your user only, so no root unless build tools are missing. Recommended.

Download .run

sc-native-0.1.0-linux-installer.run · 221 KB
sha256 2c13d96b4b78d04b…

Debian package .deb

System-wide install with apt, which pulls in the build tools.

Download .deb

sc-native_0.1.0_all.deb · 175 KB
sha256 4059548d64341e42…

Install and uninstall steps for both are on the Downloads page.

What it is

sc-native is my own native engine for StarCraft on Linux. It reads the game’s data straight from your StarCraft install and runs it with its own code, instead of through Wine. The source is about 19,000 lines of C++ across these areas:

  • Data and formats: CASC storage, MPQ archives, sprites, terrain and game data tables
  • Rendering, audio and video: SDL2 rendering, Ogg Vorbis music and voices, VP9 cinematics
  • Game simulation: pathing, economy, tech tree, abilities, fog of war, triggers, scenarios, AI scripts and replays
  • Networking: a lockstep network layer for multiplayer

Requirements

  • Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Debian (64-bit)
  • A StarCraft (Remastered) install, version 1.x, such as one under Wine, Lutris or Bottles, or on a mounted drive. StarCraft II is not supported.
  • About 10 packages of build tools, which the installer offers to install with apt (g++, make, cmake, ninja-build, pkg-config, libsdl2-dev, zlib1g-dev). It asks before installing and uses sudo only if something is missing.
  • A few minutes. The engine compiles on your machine.

Install in one line

sh sc-native-0.1.0-linux-installer.run

Then start it from the “StarCraft (sc-native)” menu entry, or run sc-native. To remove it: ~/.local/lib/sc-native/uninstall.sh. Full instructions are on the Downloads page.

How I checked these downloads

On 2026-10-28 I tested both installers on a clean Ubuntu 24.04 container with no game data:

  • The checksums match the files on this site.
  • .run: installed, compiled the engine (about 20 seconds), started the game binary (sc-native 0.1.0), passed its self-check, and uninstalled cleanly.
  • .deb: installed through apt, compiled, and removed cleanly.

The no-game-data check can’t exercise the game itself. The installer’s own self-check runs a short AI-vs-AI game when it finds a StarCraft install, and compares the result against my development machine. A difference is reported as a warning, and LAN games might desync.

Status

This is an early release (0.1.0), so expect rough edges. There are no screenshots on this page yet.