It looks like Wing Commander 3 is getting a remaster, after EA producer discovers the original FMV source tapes in the company’s archives
Wing Commander 3, the acclaimed 1994 space combat simulator directed by Chris Roberts, is receiving a remaster courtesy of EA. The project is being led by EA producer Jim Vessella, who made the announcement during a presentation at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo.
A key element of the remaster will be restored cutscenes based on the original FMV (full-motion video) recordings from the 1994 release. Vessella discovered this opportunity while digitizing EA’s video archives, uncovering 600 source tapes that had been preserved in the company’s storage. These original materials will allow the remaster to faithfully recreate the game’s signature cinematic presentation that was iconic for its era.
The announcement comes on the heels of another significant development in Chris Roberts’ space combat gaming ventures. Less than 24 hours before the Wing Commander 3 remaster was revealed, Cloud Imperium Games released a new trailer for Squadron 42, the single-player component of Star Citizen. This creates an interesting moment for Roberts’ legacy in the space sim genre, with both a classic title receiving modern restoration and his ongoing ambitious project gaining fresh publicity.
The Wing Commander 3 remaster represents both a win for game preservation efforts and a validation of EA’s ongoing interest in revisiting its classic game library. The discovery of the original FMV source tapes demonstrates the value of maintaining comprehensive archives of gaming history.