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Yes: Microsoft relicensed the source code for Zork I, Zork II and Zork III under the MIT License on November 20, 2025. That makes the specified code available for reuse under MIT’s terms; it does not make every part of the games, their names or their commercial packaging free to reuse.
What Microsoft made open source
Microsoft’s Open Source Programs Office, Team Xbox and Activision announced the release on November 20, 2025. Rather than starting new repositories, Microsoft submitted upstream pull requests to historical source repositories to add the MIT license and document the grant. The announcement describes the release as source code for the three games, with related documentation.
Microsoft’s announcement says the release excludes commercial packaging, marketing materials and assets outside the titles’ source code. It also grants no rights to trademarks or brands. In practical terms, MIT permission to work with the licensed code is not permission to use the Zork name or logos, or to reproduce a commercial edition’s packaging. Microsoft’s announcement
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat the MIT license lets you do
The cited Zork III repository includes an MIT LICENSE file with a 2025 Microsoft copyright notice. Its terms permit users to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense and sell copies of the licensed code. When distributing copies or substantial portions, users must include the copyright and permission notice. The license also provides the standard “AS IS” warranty disclaimer, so the code is offered without a warranty. Read the Zork III repository’s MIT license.
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That grant applies to the code covered by the license—not automatically to every element associated with the games. If you plan to publish a modified version or a new project based on the code, check the repository’s license and the announcement’s stated exclusions, and avoid implying Microsoft or the original brand endorses it.
Why the games were split into three parts
Microsoft describes the original mainframe version of Zork as too large for early home computers. Infocom divided it into three games—Zork I, Zork II and Zork III—and used the Z-Machine virtual-machine specification so story files could be interpreted on different computers. The release also credits Jason Scott and the Internet Archive for decades of stewardship and partnership. The historical source repositories describe their collection as historical source code and include Zork among their projects.
Rank #2
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How to play or explore the code
There are two distinct routes: obtain a commercially packaged version for straightforward play, or work from the source and use Z-machine software. Choose based on whether you want a ready-to-play package or are interested in compiling, running or studying code.
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| Route | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Packaged play | Players who want a commercial anthology rather than a source-code workflow. | Microsoft says the Zork Anthology remains commercially available on GOG. The announcement does not give a current price or platform-compatibility matrix. |
| Source and interpreter | Readers who want to study or modify the code, or build a runnable Z-machine file. | Microsoft’s announcement points to ZILF for compiling zork1.zil, zapf for assembling a runnable file, and an interpreter such as ZLR. It also mentions Windows Frotz and other Z-machine runners. Follow each project’s current instructions; the announcement does not establish detailed compatibility or provide a tested setup. |
The announcement’s example is a source-based workflow, not a guarantee that the same commands or setup work unchanged across operating systems or current tool versions. Check the tools’ own documentation before compiling. For the announcement and its build-and-play pointers, see Microsoft’s release post.
Rank #3
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Is Zork free now?
The MIT-licensed source code is free to use under the license terms, but that does not establish that every playable edition is free to download or that all game-related content is available for unrestricted reuse. Microsoft identifies the packaged Zork Anthology as a commercial option on GOG; its current offer details should be checked there.
Microsoft OSPO director Stacey Haffner said: “Our goal is simple: to place historically important code in the hands of students, teachers, and developers so they can study it, learn from it, and, perhaps most importantly, play it.”
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