Some classic games are returning with more than a compatibility update. Wing Commander is at the heart of an unusual preservation effort that began with forgotten master tapes and ended with thousands of restored cinematic sequences. EA has now released 25 games from its back catalogue on Steam for the first time, including seven enhanced editions that recover material from the original master tapes.
Announced on November 5, 2026, the collection is also available through GOG and the EA App. However, the real attraction is not simply having these titles in another digital storefront. It is the opportunity to revisit a formative period of PC gaming with footage that was previously difficult to preserve in its original quality.
Wing Commander gains a second life through seven restored editions
EA has divided its latest releases into two groups. Seven games receive dedicated Anniversary Editions with quality-of-life improvements and restored full-motion video, or FMV. Meanwhile, the remaining titles are faithful ports intended to preserve their original experiences.
The following seven restored editions are now available:
- 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
These releases highlight an important difference between preserving an old game and improving access to its original presentation. Instead of replacing the cinematic identity of the 1990s with a modern remake, EA has recovered historical material while incorporating practical enhancements for contemporary PCs.
A forgotten EA vault contained the footage needed for restoration
The project has an unexpected origin. In March 2022, EA senior producer Jim Vessella discovered a physical media vault at the company’s Redwood Shores campus. Inside were almost 20,000 archival assets, including original master tapes associated with Wing Commander and Road Rash.
Vessella’s team subsequently digitized an estimated 2,500 hours of historical footage. That work provided material for restorations that would have been impossible to reproduce faithfully from lower-quality game files alone. EA details the discovery and its preservation work in its official announcement of the 25 classic releases.
The significance goes beyond sharper cutscenes. During the 1990s, full-motion video became a distinctive storytelling technique in ambitious PC games. Recovering the original recordings helps preserve performances, editing and visual details that were often constrained by the storage and playback technology of their time.
Wing Commander III and IV recover more than 1,000 cinematic scenes
Two of the biggest beneficiaries are Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger and Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom. Together, their new editions restore more than 1,000 FMV scenes, painstakingly re-edited frame by frame from the recovered master tapes.
Players can also choose optional upscaled video. Furthermore, both games integrate the community-developed Enhancement Patch, introducing features such as 60 FPS gameplay, widescreen cockpit configuration and improved controller and joystick support. These additions make the releases more practical to play without abandoning their original design.
The first two Wing Commander games receive a different set of improvements. Their Anniversary Editions include the Kilrathi Saga versions digitally for the first time, alongside a re-orchestrated soundtrack. Community projects Wcdx and WCAT are also integrated, addressing gameplay speed, controls and aspects of the original PC experience.
Privateer 2: The Darkening offers another particularly interesting restoration. Its cinematic sequences feature Clive Owen, John Hurt and Christopher Walken. In 2024, the game’s original Cinematics Director discovered the complete source master tapes, allowing the team to restore more than 100 scenes. The new edition also includes an alternative Director’s Cut presentation.
Meanwhile, Wing Commander Prophecy recovers over 150 FMV scenes and incorporates the Secret Ops episodes. Road Rash also benefits from restored video, modern gameplay optimizations and a relicensed soundtrack featuring bands including Soundgarden and Monster Magnet.
Theme Hospital, Ultima and Crusader return as faithful PC ports
Not every title in the collection receives an extensive audiovisual restoration. EA has also brought back 18 classic releases as faithful ports, covering space combat, role-playing adventures, management simulation and action games.
The remaining games in the lineup are:
- Wing Commander: Privateer
- Wing Commander: Academy
- Wing Commander: Armada
- Strike Commander
- Theme Hospital
- Crusader: No Remorse
- Crusader: No Regret
- Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
- Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress
- Ultima III: Exodus
- Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
- Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny
- Ultima VI: The False Prophet
- Ultima VII: The Complete Edition
- Ultima VIII Gold Edition
- Ultima IX: Ascension
- Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
- Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
This second group is arguably just as important for players interested in gaming history. Theme Hospital represents a different approach to management simulation, while the Ultima series offers a journey through several generations of computer role-playing games. Crusader, meanwhile, provides a contrasting style of action built around its distinctive science-fiction setting.
Crucially, faithful ports should not be confused with the seven enhanced editions. Their appeal lies in revisiting the original games rather than expecting newly restored cinematic material or extensive visual changes.
EA’s Steam launch gives classic PC preservation new momentum
All 25 games are available on Steam, GOG and the EA App. EA has also announced special pricing on Steam and GOG from November 5 through November 19, 2026, although individual prices and discount percentages are not specified in the announcement.
The timing offers another opportunity for PC players exploring older releases. For example, Battle4Play recently covered the GTA IV Steam sale and its November discounts. Although Rockstar’s promotion is separate from EA’s initiative, both give players reasons to revisit established franchises rather than focus exclusively on new releases.
There is also a wider preservation argument. As seen with the return of Elevator Action and EXZISUS through the Archives collections, publishers can approach older games in different ways. Some prioritize faithful access to historical versions, while others combine preservation with features designed for current hardware.
EA’s collection demonstrates why those approaches do not have to compete. The faithful ports maintain access to original game designs, while the Anniversary Editions recover audiovisual material and benefit from years of community work. Existing digital owners of Wing Commander titles on GOG or the EA App will also receive the relevant Anniversary Edition upgrades at no additional cost on their respective platforms.
Ultimately, the most valuable part of this release may be what happened before any game reached Steam. Without the recovered master tapes, a substantial piece of Wing Commander history could have remained inaccessible. Now, players can revisit those cinematic adventures alongside Ultima, Road Rash and Theme Hospital. Which forgotten PC classic deserves this level of restoration next?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
