Download Eclipse

Install Beyond All Reason and start it once

Skip this if you already play. Otherwise get Beyond All Reason first — it is free — install it and launch it at least once so it downloads its engine and game files. Eclipse reads that install; it never replaces it and never touches your BAR account.

Download the installer

One file, about 110 KB. It fetches the real package — roughly 60 MB — while it runs.

Prefer to unpack it yourself? There is a zip instead. If your browser or network blocks the download, that is because it comes over plain HTTP from an IP address — see troubleshooting.

Run it, and click through the Windows warning

Windows SmartScreen will say the publisher is unknown, because the file is not code-signed. Click More info, then Run anyway.

You will not be asked for an administrator password — Eclipse installs into your own user folder, at %LOCALAPPDATA%\NeroxisLauncher.

Watch it install itself

A small window titled Installing Eclipse for Beyond All Reason walks through Connecting… → Downloading… N of M MB → Checking the download… → Unpacking… → Starting the launcher…

The check in the middle is the important one: the package's signature is verified against a key built into the installer, and the download is rejected if the hash does not match.

First start: say yes to the shortcut

Eclipse asks once whether to create a desktop shortcut, and puts Eclipse on your desktop if you say yes. Look at the top right of the window: it should read ● Beyond All Reason found. If it says the data folder was not found, jump to troubleshooting — nothing will start until that is fixed.

Make your first map and play it — no account needed

• On the PLAY page, click Create game.
• In the left column pick Offline skirmish vs AI.
• Leave ★ Generate map selected at the top of the map list.
• Open the gear beside it if you want to choose the format, size, style or biome — or leave it alone for a 4v4 on a sensible size.
• Click Start skirmish.

The map is built in a few seconds (about 7 for a 16×16), written into your BAR maps folder, and BAR starts on it. The first time, Eclipse also downloads the 37 MB of tree and rock sets — that happens once.

Make an account to play with other people

• Click Sign in to play online at the top right, then Create account.
• Pick a user name (2–20 letters, digits or _), an email address, and a password of at least 6 characters. Use a password you do not use anywhere else — the connection is not encrypted yet.
• Your first 90 days are free. Nothing to enter, no card. One account per person — the free time is per player, not per name.

Eclipse stores the login token, never your password. You can turn off Stay signed in on this computer if you would rather type it every time.

Play a game on the server

• The Eclipse games toggle shows the rooms on this server. Click one to join, or use Create game → Online game → Create to open your own.
• In the room: pick a team, add AIs if you want, set the start boxes from a preset or drag them on the minimap, and press Ready.
• Everything else downloads by itself while you wait — the map, the game version and the engine version. Watch for ✔ Map Ready, ✔ Game Ready and ✔ Engine.
• The host presses Start, and Eclipse launches BAR into the game for you.