The modding community has achieved a significant milestone by enabling two-player co-op play for both campaigns of the original Command & Conquer. This enhancement comes through the acclaimed mod, Dawn of the Tiberium Age (DTA), which has been in development since 2007. The mod aims to breathe new life into the classic 1995 game and its Cold War counterpart, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, allowing players to engage in cooperative gameplay with friends.
New Features and Enhancements
Built on a customized version of the Tiberian Sun engine, DTA allows players to select from any of the game’s four factions while battling on multiplayer maps. The mod includes a diverse range of original single-player missions and even introduces a new campaign. This week, the DTA team announced that players can now experience all of the original Command & Conquer single-player missions in a two-player format. This co-op feature has been partially available since 2023, when the team adapted the GDI campaign. The latest update now extends this functionality to the Nod storyline.
The DTA modders have not simply ported the original experience into a co-op setting. Instead, they have made significant adjustments to enhance gameplay. For instance, artillery has a longer range, and the perspective has shifted to an isometric view, reminiscent of Tiberian Sun. The missions have been redesigned specifically for cooperative play. The maps are now larger and filled with additional resources and enemies, ensuring that the second player feels fully engaged rather than sidelined.
In a statement from the DTA team, they highlighted their intention to maintain the core structure and spirit of the original missions while correcting design flaws. For example, in the GDI mission 4, which previously allowed players to win by simply driving an APC into a crate, the mod now requires players to retrieve the crate with a truck and safely return it.
Additional Updates and Future Prospects
Accompanying the new co-op functionality, the latest update introduces a custom mission titled Shadow Reprisal, which has been in development since 2016. The update also includes a new radar dome model for the Soviet faction and improved models for Nod’s Torpedo Boats, alongside six new multiplayer maps.
While the modding team has not confirmed plans to adapt the Red Alert campaigns for two-player co-op, such an extension seems a logical next step. The continued dedication of the DTA team to revitalizing the Command & Conquer series is noteworthy, especially given that EA, the franchise’s current publisher, has shown limited interest in expanding the series. Although EA has recently released the source code for several older games, this initiative has not led to any new titles.
In the meantime, players seeking a more modern twist on the beloved franchise can explore Tempest Rising, a recent spiritual successor that captures the essence of the classic Command & Conquer gameplay. The resurgence of interest in these iconic titles underscores the enduring legacy of real-time strategy games and their modding communities.
