Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War

Released May 2014

Volition's classic is back. Descent: FreeSpace is the quintessential old school space shooter. With a deep story, great graphics and engaging battles against fighters to capital ships it keeps you moving. Breakout that flight stick and enroll with the Grand Terran Alliance today.

77% positive · 245 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $19.99

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Evaluation

Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War is a classic 1998 space combat game that was re-released on Steam on May 7, 2014. The Steam store listing includes both the original FreeSpace campaign and the Silent Threat mission pack, making it a complete package. There is no post-launch update activity, no DLC listings, no roadmap, and no developer communications announcing additional content. Volition released this as a finished, legacy product — a straightforward digital re-release of a game that was fully complete at its original launch. No further development activity is expected or has been communicated.

Evidence

Store listing bundles the original FreeSpace campaign and the Silent Threat mission pack, presented as a complete classic package with no mention of future content or updates.

store metadata · May 7, 2014 source content shipped

high

Short description frames the game as a classic re-release ('Volition's classic is back'), with no indication of ongoing development or planned additions.

description · May 7, 2014 source content shipped

medium

Media

Details

Developer

Volition Inc.

Publisher

Interplay Inc.

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player · Multiplayer

Space Action Sci-fi Flight Real Time Tactics Space Sim Simulation Spaceships 6DOF Shooter FPS First-Person War Combat Realistic

About this game

Includes the original Freespace and the Silent Threat mission pack

They arrived by the thousands, suddenly and without warning.

The heartless Shivans emerged through subspace near Earth, harboring technology light years ahead of anything seen before. They made no attempt to communicate. They did not respond to your heralds. They simply attacked--and destroyed everything in their path.

As a pilot for the Galactic Terran Alliance (GTA) you are no stranger to war. But when racing through space to engage your new enemy for the first time, you sense something different. Suddenly, darkness blankets your craft. Your stomach sinks as your eyes pan across the Shivan flagship's massive body. Then it begins. Swarms of fighters pour from the belly of the flagship and scream towards you. You are about to discover everything you thought you knew about space combat--just changed.

This is the beginning of The Great War.

- 30 branching single-player missions and 20 multiplayer missions
- 3 unique species, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, tactics, ships, and fighting characteristics.
- Over 40 jaw-dropping real-time ships with dynamic lighting, stunning effects, animation and unprecedented levels of realism and detail.
- Create your own detailed missions using 'FRED", the fully-featured mission editor.