View source for Freelancer (video game)

'''''Freelancer''''' is a space trading and combat simulation video game developed by [[Digital Anvil]] and published by Microsoft Game Studios.

It is a spiritual successor to ''[[Wing Commander: Privateer|Privateer]].''<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/live/m9FmVWiUoFo?feature=shared&t=3825 Happy Hour Museum: Wing Commander Privateer], Star Citizen, YouTube, 31 march 2017</ref>

It is a chronological sequel to Digital Anvil's ''[[Starlancer (video game)|Starlancer]]'', a combat flight simulator released in 2000. The game was initially announced by [[Chris Roberts]] in 1999 and has been shown at E3, winning awards for the best game of the show, and following many production schedule mishaps and a buyout of Digital Anvil by Microsoft, it was eventually released in March 2003.

''Freelancer'' was to bring a persistent world with a full economy and dynamic weather system on each world, as well as thousands of players. This proved costly and time consuming, causing delays, and when Microsoft bought Digital Anvil they stripped much of the game while Chris Roberts became a creative consultant. He left four years into ''Freelancer'', and two years before it game out.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/05/digital-anvil-interview Digital Anvil Interview], ign.com, Jun 18, 2012</ref><ref name=":0" /> Microsoft was setting up infrastructure for the [[Xbox]] and had no use for a PC game at the timer.<ref>"[https://x.com/banditloaf/status/1649058076308168704 Microsoft funded Digital Anvil from the start. But they didn’t go on to buy the rest to finish a PC game… they were setting up infrastructure for the Xbox!]", @banditloaf, Twitter, Apr 20, 2023</ref>

[[Martin Galway]] was audio director.<ref>[https://www.mobygames.com/person/4639/martin-galway/ Martin Galway biography,] MobyGames</ref>

Freelancer was finished against all odds thanks to Jörg Neumann who has quietly been part of the bedrock of Microsoft's game ever since.<ref>"[https://x.com/banditloaf/status/1649108052195389440 The real legacy of Freelancer is that the guy that finished it against all odds, Jörg Neumann, has quietly been part of the bedrock of Microsoft's game stuff ever since! A rare totally reliable producer who you never hear about with the big names.]", @banditloaf, Twitter, Apr 20, 2023</ref>

''Freelancer'' was not a huge commercial success, but it was memorable.<ref name=":0">[https://venturebeat.com/games/wing-commander-creator-chris-roberts-returns-to-gaming-with-star-citizen-online-game-universe/ Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts returns to gaming with Star Citizen online game universe], VentureBeat, October 10, 2012</ref>

Despite its age it still has active private servers.<ref>[http://www.flserver.de/ Welcome to the Freelancer Server Statistics Page]</ref> It also has among others a [[Wing Commander (series)|''Wing Commander'']] mod.<ref>[https://www.wcsaga.com/ Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn]</ref>

<blockquote>"Can't tell the [[Star Citizen]] story without Freelancer :)" -[[Ben Lesnick|Ben Lesnick.]]<ref>"[https://x.com/banditloaf/status/847927951895052288 Absolutely! Can't tell the Star Citizen story without Freelancer :)]", @banditloaf, Twitter, Mar 31, 2017</ref></blockquote>

* [https://www.moddb.com/mods/crossfire Crossfire] mod with updated graphics