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Unreal Tournament
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Unreal Tournament

electronic game
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Article History

Unreal Tournament, electronic first-person shooter (FPS) game, released by American game developer GT Interactive Software Corp. (now Atari, Inc.) in 1999. A sequel to the popular combat video game Unreal, Unreal Tournament represented a shift from single-player action to multiplayer online gaming. The game received critical acclaim for its superior graphics and advanced gameplay and for offering one of the first enjoyable team shooter games.

Set in deep space, Unreal Tournament takes place in a distant future in which gladiator-style fights have been legalized. Players compete in tournaments using advanced weaponry and accomplish the goal of the particular game mode or mission while causing maximum carnage. Cooperative and team-play options are high points of Unreal Tournament, along with an advanced artificial intelligence engine. Available play modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Domination, Last Man Standing, and Assault. Gore, long a trademark of the shooter genre, has plenty of representation in the game.

Unreal Tournament’s popularity led to several well-received sequels: Unreal Tournament 2003 (2002), Unreal Tournament 2004 (2004), and Unreal Tournament 3 (2007). The popular and enduring franchise has inspired fans to create their own levels and features for the game using the original Unreal Tournament codes. These user-created modifications, known as mods, can be found at various Web sites and message boards on the Internet.

This article was most recently revised and updated by William L. Hosch.