On May 11, 2026, the KAOS Software Team released Scorched Earth 2000 v1.1, an HTML5 and JavaScript port of the 1990s cult artillery game Scorched Earth. This browser-based revival includes multiplayer support, customizable tanks, AI opponents, and supports resolutions up to 1024x768. The development team of seven was led by project head Hei C. Ng, with Nathan Roslavker handling weapons programming, ensuring a faithful yet modernized experience 1.
Scorched Earth 2000 v1.1 faithfully replicates the original turn-based artillery gameplay where players adjust angles, power, and wind to destroy opponents' tanks. The HTML5 port preserves core mechanics such as a shop system for weapons and upgrades, with inventory tracking for ammo set at 999 by default and power at 300. It supports three screen resolutions: 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768, and adds a debug console feature for developers 1.
The game offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, with multiplayer accommodating up to eight players. It allows private game creation with hidden public listings and customizable wind settings ranging from None to Strong. Players can choose from six tank types, labeled Tank 1 through Tank 6, and include AI opponents numbering from zero to seven. The interface features chat, player statistics tracking such as kills and gain, and a 'Mass Kill' mode for competitive high scores 1.
Development was led by Hei C. Ng, also known as 'xixi', as project lead, alongside Alexander Rasin as development lead. Mikhail Kruk programmed the client side, Nathan Roslavker managed weapons programming, and Ramya Ramesh developed the physics engine. Documentation was prepared by Kapil Mehra, and quality assurance was overseen by John Langton. The team acknowledged Wendell Hicken, creator of the original game, and Stanislav Malyshev for networking support 1.
The port pays homage to the original game and its community with features such as a 'Galsla mode' credited to contributor Galsla. The team name 'KAOS' was inspired by Roger Waters. Boris Kruk assisted with color matching, and a developer known as 'dkw' contributed file protection expertise. The game includes a dedicated menu displaying its license, although the source does not detail the license terms 1.
Scorched Earth 2000 v1.1 combines retro gameplay with modern conveniences. Players can purchase items from a shop before rounds, with prices and quantities shown in a table. The game tracks player statistics such as kills and gain across rounds and includes a 'New Round' button to reset matches. An 'About Scorched Earth 2000' section provides version details and credits the development team 1.
The original Scorched Earth was a 1990s shareware game celebrated for its addictive turn-based combat and physics-based projectile mechanics. This 2026 port replicates that experience in a browser using JavaScript and HTML5, eliminating the need for downloads or emulators. The source does not specify whether the port is open-source or if it includes any monetization features 1.
Multiplayer in Scorched Earth 2000 supports creating or joining games, including private matches hidden from public listings. Players can add human or AI opponents, with AI difficulty adjustable from zero to seven. The game also features a 'Share Game' button, though the source does not clarify the sharing method, such as links or invites, leaving some details of multiplayer connectivity unspecified 1.