How do I make new typefaces and fonts?

[Perzival12]

I want to add some custom fonts and typefaces to Hyrule Conquest, but 0 A.D. seems to use custom files, a .png and a .fnt file. Is there a python script to write the .fnt file, or can I just write one, or what?

[Dunedan]

In r28 the font engine got replaced, so you could use any FreeType or OpenType font. All you have to do is add it in the right location (it's binaries/data/mods/mod/fonts/ by default, but should work with any mod too) and change you config to use them. Here is how that'd need to look in your config: https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/src/commit/6ca52a0b23a311910e259cddf4ddab747374f22d/binaries/data/config/default.cfg#L659-L710

If you are stuck with Hyrule Conquest on a27, check out source/tools/fontbuilder2/fontbuilder.py for how to build the font files.

[Perzival12]

On 27/2/2026 at 10:37 PM, Dunedan said:

In r28 the font engine got replaced, so you could use any FreeType or OpenType font. All you have to do is add it in the right location (it's binaries/data/mods/mod/fonts/ by default, but should work with any mod too) and change you config to use them. Here is how that'd need to look in your config: https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/src/commit/6ca52a0b23a311910e259cddf4ddab747374f22d/binaries/data/config/default.cfg#L659-L710

So if I want to include my new fonts for download in the mod, I have to include a custom config file specifying them? I can’t just specify them in the GUI file that uses them?

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

Yes, this confuses me as well. 

[Stan`]

Yeah because previously we generated the font atlases manually and you had to edit the python script to do it for you now the game can do it for you but it still needs to know what you want.

[trompetin17]

IM not sure if you already read this page https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/wiki/Adding_font_support

Let us know if that help

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

Isn't the problem that default.cfg is not a file we can include in a mod? 

[trompetin17]

27 minutes ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said:

Isn't the problem that default.cfg is not a file we can include in a mod? 

Current code only load the file "config/[yourmodname].cfg"

[trompetin17]

30 minutes ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said:

Isn't the problem that default.cfg is not a file we can include in a mod? 

In the wiki page have some comment how to replace the font from default if you want this.

 

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

18 minutes ago, trompetin17 said:

Current code only load the file "config/[yourmodname].cfg"

 

15 minutes ago, trompetin17 said:

In the wiki page have some comment how to replace the font from default if you want this.

 

So, my-mod is the top folder name for the mod, correct?

 

EDIT: Correct. This works. But will take a tooooon of GUI editing to make look good, because the current GUI code uses one font style for almost everything.

 

[trompetin17]

Nice!!, Im working to fix blurry issue

[trompetin17]

1 hour ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said:

 

So, my-mod is the top folder name for the mod, correct?

 

EDIT: Correct. This works. But will take a tooooon of GUI editing to make look good, because the current GUI code uses one font style for almost everything.

 

btw what font are you using? Im seeing some baseline issue (im working on it also)

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

52 minutes ago, trompetin17 said:

btw what font are you using? Im seeing some baseline issue (im working on it also)

The font in the example is 'Lithos', which is a really nice font for titles, headers, and buttons, but not good for information text.