Unturned source code: What the U3 SDK licence allows

Smartly Dressed Games made Unturned’s source code and project files publicly available on 7 July 2026. For modders, however, the important question is not simply whether the code can be viewed. It is what the accompanying licence actually permits them to build, distribute and fund.

The short answer is that the public U3 SDK repository supports ambitious community projects, including modified games and total conversions. It is not open source under the Open Source Initiative definition, and it does not provide unrestricted permission to use Unturned’s code, assets or branding.

This guide explains the practical boundaries in Smartly Dressed Games’ published terms. It is editorial information rather than legal advice, so anyone preparing a public project should also read the complete U3 SDK License Agreement.

Is Unturned open source now?

No—not under the current U3 SDK licence. Smartly Dressed Games’ official FAQ says the non-commercial licence does not meet the Open Source Initiative definition. “The code is publicly available on GitHub” is therefore accurate, while “Unturned is now open source” is not.

The distinction changes what developers can do. The U3 SDK agreement provides specific permission for community development but restricts commercial use, supported platforms, trademarks and some forms of distribution.

“Releasing the source files allows you and other players to further expand upon the game as you see fit, building a lasting legacy for the game regardless of the changes we make or how many years pass from now.”

Smartly Dressed Games, U3 SDK FAQ

What you can build with the U3 SDK

The agreement permits developers to use, copy and modify the SDK to develop what it defines as a “Mod”. It also permits distribution in source-code or object-code form within the agreement’s limits. In practice, that creates room for projects much larger than conventional Workshop additions: Smartly Dressed Games describes uses ranging from balance changes and new items to total conversions with new gameplay elements.

A custom project does not alter the official Steam game automatically. The practical opportunity is to build a separate modified game or community project. Smartly Dressed Games says it expects to continue maintaining the official Steam version and plans to keep the repository source synchronised with official releases.

The repository currently specifies Unity 2022.3.62f3. Its setup instructions also require an installed Steam copy of Unturned to supply large binary files and mods, so the GitHub repository should not be treated as a completely self-contained copy of every component needed for development.

What the licence allows—and rules out

Can I distribute a standalone Unturned fork?

Potentially, provided the project complies with the licence. The agreement allows a modified game to be distributed for personal computers running Windows, macOS or Linux, in either source-code or object-code form. The project must be free of charge and operated on a strictly non-commercial basis. Describing a build as “standalone”, a fork or a total conversion does not remove those conditions.

Can I sell it or charge for in-game benefits?

No. According to the U3 SDK FAQ, players must be able to access all features and content free of charge. Exchanging in-game content or services for payment counts as commercial use under the published guidance. A project therefore cannot sell the modified game or put content, gameplay benefits or in-game services behind payment.

Smartly Dressed Games does permit voluntary donations when donors receive no in-game benefit. It also says creators may earn advertising or sponsorship revenue from YouTube videos about their mods.

The FAQ does not establish a general permission for every form of crowdfunding. Developers should not assume that calling a payment “support” makes it compatible with the licence, particularly if payment provides game access, content, services or other in-game benefits.

Can I port it to consoles, mobile devices or handhelds?

No. The licence prohibits using, developing, adapting, porting, compiling, translating or exploiting the software for gaming consoles and mobile or handheld devices.

It also prohibits environments that facilitate play on those restricted devices through emulation, virtualisation, streaming or cloud-based delivery. This restriction should not be broadened into a claim that every conceivable cloud service is prohibited; the relevant clause addresses delivery that enables play on the restricted device categories. The agreement separately prohibits subscription delivery.

Windows, macOS and Linux PCs are the permitted platforms. Because the agreement also contains a specific handheld-device prohibition, its reference to Linux PCs should not be read as blanket permission to target Linux-based handhelds such as Steam Deck.

Can I publish a U3 SDK project on Steam?

Steam publication is not guaranteed. The FAQ says Smartly Dressed Games intends to support standalone-mod build targets on Steam “if possible”, but that is not confirmation that every project will receive a publishing route or approval. A team planning a release should therefore verify the available process rather than make its distribution plan depend on assumed Steam support.

Can I use the Unturned name or logo?

Not automatically. The U3 SDK licence does not grant rights to Unturned trademarks. Developers should not assume that they can present a project as an official Unturned sequel, adopt official branding as their own or imply endorsement merely because they used the SDK. A distinct project name and clear description of its community-developed status reduce that risk, but anyone who wants broader branding rights would need separate permission.

Why public code does not make every asset reusable

The release is not a ready-to-redistribute package containing every component used by Unturned. Smartly Dressed Games says it removed code that it could not redistribute, including third-party pathfinding and anti-cheat libraries. It also excluded the core asset bundle because that bundle contains third-party licensed content.

Total-conversion teams should not assume that every model, sound, texture, library or dependency from the official game is included or cleared for redistribution. The FAQ says Smartly Dressed Games cannot provide a definitive item-by-item list separating third-party assets from those made in-house. An asset appearing in the official game is not, by itself, evidence that a community project may redistribute it.

Will Workshop mods and server plugins still work?

Compatibility should be tested rather than assumed. Smartly Dressed Games discusses Workshop and plugin compatibility caveats in its U3 SDK FAQ, and a fork that changes code, dependencies or game behaviour may require project-specific compatibility work.

Developers and server operators should test the precise combination of fork, Workshop content and plugins they intend to support before telling players that an existing setup will work unchanged.

A source-code fork should not be assumed to qualify automatically for the official public server list either. Smartly Dressed Games documents that list and its moderation separately, so operators should verify how listing and moderation apply to their particular build.

The practical bottom line

The U3 SDK is a meaningful release for technically minded Unturned communities. It enables deeper projects than ordinary modding, including free PC forks and total conversions, while Smartly Dressed Games continues maintaining the official Steam game.

Its restrictions define the opportunity. A distributed project must remain free and non-commercial, target permitted Windows, macOS or Linux PCs, stay away from prohibited console, mobile and handheld uses, avoid assuming that every game asset is reusable, and respect the fact that Unturned trademark rights are not included.

Before preparing a release, read the complete U3 SDK licence, follow the repository’s official setup instructions, replace or clear assets whose rights cannot be established, and treat Steam distribution and third-party compatibility as matters to verify rather than promises.