Wing Commander returns to Steam with a new initiative by Electronic Arts aimed at preserving the great PC gaming classics. On November 5, 2026, the publisher re-released 25 historic video games, available on Steam, GOG and EA app. Among these stand six new Anniversary Editions of Wing Commander, joined by a seventh celebratory edition dedicated to Road Rash.
This is not merely a digital re-release: seven titles have undergone restoration work involving original cinematic footage, compatibility with modern systems, performance, and controls. A project born from the recovery of a significant archive of historical materials from Electronic Arts and also realised thanks to collaboration with the community of enthusiasts.
Wing Commander returns to Steam with six Anniversary Editions
The return of Wing Commander represents one of the most interesting aspects of EA’s initiative. The historic space combat saga, originally developed by Origin Systems, debuted in 1990 on DOS, becoming over the years one of the genre’s key references. The series captivated fans thanks to starship battles, its narrative component, and its famous cinematic sequences.
Electronic Arts has announced six celebratory editions dedicated to the series, with different anniversaries depending on the year of release of the games:
- Wing Commander: 35th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi: 35th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander Prophecy: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Privateer 2: The Darkening: 30th Anniversary Edition
These versions aim to preserve the identity of the original games while simultaneously introducing technical improvements designed to make them more accessible on current computers. EA’s stated goal is to maintain the look, feel, and creative intent of the original works, without compromising the experience.
The restoration of games: recover more than 1,500 cinematic scenes
One of the most significant aspects of the project concerns the recovery of the original audiovisual materials. The work began in March 2022, when EA’s Senior Producer Jim Vessella identified, at the Redwood Shores campus, a large archive of physical media containing nearly 20,000 items, including Betacam, VHS, and D1 tapes.
Within the archive, original masters of key cinematic sequences from the Wing Commander series and Road Rash were also preserved. The digitisation of the materials enabled the recovery of approximately 2,500 hours of historical footage and the restoration of more than 1,500 cinematic scenes distributed across the seven games featured in the Anniversary Edition.
The restoration goes beyond recovering the videos. The new editions introduce several improvements:
- Restored FMV footage: the cinematic sequences have been recovered from the original masters, digitised and re-integrated into their respective games.
- Improved video resolution: some editions offer upscaling options to make videos sharper on modern displays.
- Updated compatibility: updates have been introduced to facilitate operation on current operating systems and hardware configurations.
- Controller improvements: the editions concerned include updates and additional options to make the gaming experience more accessible.
- Collaboration with the community: For several chapters of Wing Commander, some modifications created by fans have been integrated into the official versions.
The community’s contribution is particularly important for the series. The Anniversary Editions of Wing Commander and Wing Commander II, for example, include dedicated updates for the DOS and Kilrathi Saga versions, with performance tweaks, audio options, controller support, and further improvements.
Not just Wing Commander: all 25 classic EA titles return to PC
Electronic Arts' initiative covers not only Origin Systems' space saga. The catalogue includes a total of 25 classic PC games, divided between seven restored Anniversary Editions and another 18 re-releases that largely retain the features of the original versions.
Beyond the six celebratory Wing Commander chapters, the catalog also includes Wing Commander: Privateer, Wing Commander: Academy and Wing Commander: Armada. It also features some of the most representative series from the historical catalog of Origin Systems and Electronic Arts.
Here's the full list of remade games:
The seven Anniversary Editions restored
- Road Rash: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander: 35th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi: 35th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Wing Commander Prophecy: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Privateer 2: The Darkening: 30th Anniversary Edition
The other 18 remastered classics
- Wing Commander: Privateer
- Wing Commander: Academy
- Wing Commander: Armada
- Strike Commander
- Theme Hospital
- Crusader: No Remorse
- Crusader: No Regret
- Last I: The First Age of Darkness
- Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress
- Ultima III: Exodus
- Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
- Last V: Warriors of Destiny
- Ultima VI: The False Prophet
- Final Fantasy VII: The Complete Edition
- Ultima VIII: Gold Edition
- Final Fantasy IX: Ascension
- Ultima Underworld I: The Stygian Abyss
- Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
The collection therefore represents an opportunity to rediscover not only Wing Commander, but also other significant chapters in the history of PC video games, including role-playing, strategy, adventure, and simulation titles.
Wing Commander: Privateer, freedom and trade in space
Among the returning titles, special mention deserves Wing Commander: Privateer, one of the most original episodes in the universe created by Origin Systems. Released in 1993, the game stands out from the main chapters due to its more open structure, giving the player greater freedom in deciding how to experience their space adventure.
Instead of following solely a sequence of missions tied to the war against the Kilrathi, in Privateer players can explore star systems, trade, take on contracts, and engage in combat. The player can choose their own path, focusing on cargo transport, piracy, or working as a mercenary.
Customising the spaceship is another central element of the experience: weapons, armour and onboard systems can be modified to suit the vessel’s specific needs. A formula that has helped make Privateer a particularly favoured chapter among space simulation and sandbox adventure enthusiasts.
Don't confuse with Privateer 2: The Darkening, which is also included in the new Anniversary Edition. This one is a distinct title, characterised by a strong cinematic component and FMV sequences featuring actors such as Clive Owen, John Hurt and Christopher Walken.
When and where to buy the classics Wing Commander
The 25 games in the collection are available from 5 November 2026 on Steam, GOG and EA app. The arrival on Steam is particularly significant for several historic titles, which are thus being distributed for the first time on Valve's platform.
Electronic Arts has also scheduled a special promotion on Steam e GOG from 5 to 19 November 2026. Pricing conditions may vary depending on the platform and reference market: it is therefore advisable to check the respective purchase pages for the most up-to-date prices.
An interesting update also affects those who already own some titles in the series: users who have purchased the relevant Wing Commander titles digitally via GOG or EA app will receive for free the update to the corresponding Anniversary Edition on the same platform.
For more details on the restoration work, you can consult the official Electronic Arts announcement dedicated to the 25 classic games.annuncio ufficiale di Electronic Arts dedicato ai 25 giochi classici.
Frequently asked questions about Wing Commander and its return on Steam
When was the first Wing Commander released?
The first Wing Commander was released in 1990 for DOS. Developed by Origin Systems, it helped define the genre of PC space combat.
How many Wing Commander games have returned to Steam?
The catalog includes nine titles tied to the saga: six new Anniversary Editions and three re-releases, namely Wing Commander: Privateer, Wing Commander: Academy and Wing Commander: Armada.
Which Wing Commander games have received a restoration?
The six restored editions are Wing Commander, Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi, Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom, Wing Commander Prophecy and Privateer 2: The Darkening.
On which platforms are the games available?
The 25 classic EA titles are available on Steam, GOG ed EA app. The special promotion announced by EA relates to Steam and GOG.
Are the Anniversary Editions just simple ports?
No. The seven Anniversary Editions include restoration work and updates for modern systems. Among the new features are the recovery of original footage, improvements to compatibility and controls, and, for some titles, the integration of community-made modifications.
Does anyone who already owns Wing Commander need to buy the Anniversary Edition again?
Not necessarily. Those who already own a digital copy of the relevant Wing Commander games on GOG or EA app will receive the Anniversary Edition update for free on their respective platforms. EA’s announcement does not explicitly extend this option to purchases made on Steam.
An opportunity to preserve the history of PC gaming
The return of Wing Commander on Steam is just one part of a larger project aimed at making 25 classics from Electronic Arts’ catalog once again accessible. The recovery of the original master tapes, the restoration of cinematic sequences, and the involvement of the community demonstrate how important it is to preserve even the technical and audiovisual aspects of historic video games.
For those who lived through the golden age of PC space simulators, the new Anniversary Editions represent an opportunity to return to the universe of Origin Systems. For younger players, however, they may become an opportunity to discover some of the titles that helped shape the history of video games.
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