On February 18, 2026, Wildfire Games announced 0 A.D. Release 28: Boiorix as its first release without the Alpha label. This explainer revisits that February announcement for new players; it is not an October launch report or a gameplay review. We have not installed or tested the game. Original announcement
What “free and open source” covers
The team describes the official download as free, without a freemium model or in-game advertising. That describes the game’s offering, rather than eliminating a player’s hardware or internet costs. The code uses GPL v2, while the artwork uses CC BY-SA 3.0. Those are different licenses, not a declaration that everything is public domain. Release details
Dropping Alpha changes the project’s presentation. It does not, by itself, establish a 1.0 designation, certify technical quality or guarantee an absence of bugs. The practical question for a newcomer remains whether the release supports their setup.
Changes and compatibility to check before starting
Release 28 introduces the Germans faction with a semi-nomadic economy built around Supply Wagons and Wagon Encampments. That is the team’s feature description, rather than our assessment of balance or strategy. Release details
The announcement also ends support for Windows 7 and 8.1 and macOS versions earlier than 10.15, and lists a 64-bit Windows build and a Linux AppImage. These are compatibility points, not a complete hardware checklist. The team asks users to disable mods before updating to avoid conflicts. Check mod compatibility and the official site’s download information before proceeding; this article does not verify installation or performance on any particular system. Original announcement
The sources, on the record.
Sources checked Oct 20, 2026. Reporting and analysis are labelled separately. Our editorial standards.