Discover Combined Arms: A Modders’ Revival of Command & Conquer

by Luis January 3, 2025

Modders have breathed new life into the Command & Conquer franchise with an impressive mod called Combined Arms. In development for four years, this mod features all five factions from the series, each with their own unique abilities and units. The campaign weaves together the timelines of various Command & Conquer titles, while new tracks by series composer Frank Klepacki add to the nostalgia. Although lacking the polish of the recent Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, Combined Arms showcases the extensive quality-of-life improvements made by the OpenRA engine. As one of the most popular mods on Moddb, it’s definitely worth a try for fans of the franchise.

Discover Combined Arms: A Modders’ Revival of Command & Conquer

– Modders have been using open-source tools to improve and expand the Command & Conquer franchise, with one mod called Combined Arms becoming an original entry in the series.
– Combined Arms features all five factions from the Command & Conquer franchise, each with their own unique powers and units, and includes content from multiple games in the series.
– The mod offers a 34-mission campaign that bridges the timelines of various Command & Conquer titles and incorporates new features and quality-of-life improvements.

The Command & Conquer franchise, a classic real-time strategy series, has been somewhat neglected by its caretaker EA in recent years. However, dedicated modders have risen to the occasion, using open-source tools like OpenRA to keep the series alive and thriving. One such mod, Combined Arms, developed by Inqubi over the course of four years, has recently received a new update and now boasts enough content to be considered an original entry in the Command & Conquer franchise.

Combined Arms is a massive project that brings together all five factions from across the Command & Conquer franchise, each with their own unique sub-factions. These sub-factions come with their own set of powers, units, upgrades, and bonuses. For example, playing as the USA sub-faction for the Allies grants you enhanced airborne capabilities, while the Psi-Corps for the Soviets gives you access to mind-control units. The mod not only utilizes content from the original Command & Conquer and Red Alert games but also incorporates assets from Red Alert 2 and Tiberium Wars. All these assets are rendered in the original, chunky Command & Conquer style.

One of the highlights of Combined Arms is its 34-mission campaign, which cleverly summarizes plot points that bridge the timelines of various Command & Conquer titles. Additionally, the mod features nine new tracks that remix the original songs from series composer Frank Klepacki. These additions help to immerse players in the rich Command & Conquer universe.

While Combined Arms may lack some of the polish seen in the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection released in 2020, it compensates with a plethora of quality-of-life improvements made possible by the OpenRA engine. These improvements include new accessibility options, ultrawide monitor support, and build queues, among others. These additions demonstrate the dedication of the modding community to enhancing the gaming experience for Command & Conquer fans.

As of now, Combined Arms stands as the fourth most popular mod on Moddb, a testament to its popularity within the community. Having tried the mod myself, I strongly recommend it to any fan of the Command & Conquer franchise or real-time strategy aficionado. The mod is easily accessible as a self-contained download from Moddb, making it straightforward for players to dive in and experience the unique content it offers.