001 Game Creator Turns 20!
This year marks two decades since 001 was first released to the public back in August 2005, and boy what a journey it’s been! From those humble beginnings to becoming the powerful and flexible engine it is today, none of it would have been possible without our amazing community of creators.
The story actually began even earlier in 2001, when development first started on what would become the engine you know today. From the start, the vision was to give creators of all skill levels the tools they needed to build games without barriers. That dream took shape with the first free public release as a free tool in August 2005, marking the beginning of a journey that would empower countless creators around the world.
By September 2008, 001 expanded into basic 3D functionality, laying the groundwork for more ambitious projects. Just a few years later, in August 2013, a beta release brought Android and iOS exporting into the mix, opening the door for mobile creators. This momentum carried into April 2014 (v1.013.030), when extensive support for 3D game creation was added, cementing 001 as a truly versatile engine that could handle everything from 2D passion projects to more immersive 3D worlds.
The software’s presence grew significantly in 2015, with 001 Game Creator launching on Steam on July 14, giving it worldwide visibility and a growing player base. Shortly after, on April 9, 2016, the Discord server was created, forming a thriving community hub that still serves as the beating heart of our userbase.
Check out the MMORPG DLC: https://001gamecreator.com/product/mmorpg-dlc/
That same year saw multiple key breakthroughs: multiplayer functionality was introduced in July 2016, giving creators the ability to build online experiences, while iOS exporting arrived on December, enhancing 001’s mobile reach. This rapid progress carried into 2017, a year of genre-defining releases: the MMORPG Kit DLC, the 3D FPS / Survival Horror Kit DLC, and the Point & Click Adventure Kit DLC, all of which provided creators with powerful starting points for ambitious projects.
Check out the FPS DLC: https://001gamecreator.com/product/fps-dlc/
By 2018, the ecosystem expanded further. In February, we released the first official video tutorial series on YouTube, helping newcomers get started with game creation. That same year, the Enhanced RPG Kit DLC arrived in November, followed closely by the registration of the 001gamecreator.com domain on November 15, marking our growing online presence. In April 2019, the Visual Novel Kit DLC joined the lineup, continuing to broaden the creative possibilities within 001.
Check out the Enhanced RPG DLC: https://001gamecreator.com/product/enhanced-rpg/
The following years brought even greater impact. On July 15, 2020, the first 001 Humble Bundle was launched, marking the the beginning of our long-running contributions to charity, which to date have raised an incredible $565,000+ for good causes. Just a few months later, in October 2020, we released the first Game Dev STEM Humble Bundle, alongside our first gamedev books and educational worksheets, strengthening 001’s role in classrooms and learning spaces worldwide. Later that year, on November 25, 2020, we debuted our first Game Recipe, offering creators bite-sized development guides to build specific mechanics quickly.
In 2021, we took accessibility further with the release of Easy Game Creator in February, a simplified entry point for beginners. That same year also saw the community come together through events from the Safer At Home Halloween Game Jam in October to the Screenshot Contest in May. Both celebrating creativity and resilience during challenging global times.
The future began to reveal itself in 2023. On May 9, we shared the first teaser for Open Dev Kit, signaling the next phase of our journey. Just weeks later, on May 31, 2023, the ODK Alpha was officially released, while on September 25, the 3D Step Dungeon Maze Kit DLC expanded the 001 DLC family once more. And in 2024, after a year of steady improvements, Open Dev Kit transitioned from Alpha to public Beta on June 4, opening its doors to a broader audience and establishing itself as the natural evolution of everything 001 pioneered.
Check out Open Dev Kit here: https://opendevkit.com/
Check out our latest DLC, the 3D Step Dungeon Maze Kit: https://001gamecreator.com/product/step-dungeon-dlc/
More recently, 001 achieved another huge milestone by launching on the Epic Games Store, further extending its reach to even more creators.
Check out its store page: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/001-game-creator-eabf55
Across more than two decades, 001 Game Creator has grown from a humble passion project to a widely recognized development platform; one that has inspired classrooms, supported charities, and empowered creators of all skill levels. With continued recognition and support through government R&D grants since 2018, availability on both Steam and the Epic Games Store, and a dedicated community that has stood with us every step of the way, we are proud of how far we’ve come… and excited for where we’re heading next!
Open Dev Kit Updates
Speaking of, over in the world of Open Dev Kit, big things are happening too! The brand-new documentation is live on our website, featuring a growing library of guides, tips, and walkthroughs to help you master everything from editor tricks to advanced system design.
This latest update also adds powerful new features like dictionary structures in the type picker, easy JSON-to-structure conversion functions, and major improvements to our OpenAI integration including service tier selection, fine-tuned model support, and enhanced demo tools. Whether you’re building with AI or creating complex data-driven systems, Open Dev Kit now makes it easier than ever to bring your ideas to life.
Check out the new Open Dev Kit documentation here: https://opendevkit.com/documentation/index.htm
Special Sale!
To celebrate 20 years of game-making, we’re launching a special anniversary sale. Until September 5th, you can get the main 001 Game Creator engine for 75% off, plus all DLCs also discounted by 20%. It’s the perfect chance to jump in if you’re new, or to expand your toolkit with a DLC or two if you’ve been creating with 001 for years.
https://001gamecreator.com/product/001-game-creator/
Thank you again for being part of this journey and helping 001 grow into what it is today. Here’s to the next 20 years of creativity, innovation, and game-making magic!
With much love,
The SoftWeir Team
