3000AD announces the release of Universal Combat CE for free on Steam, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the conception of Battlecruiser 3000AD, though Derek Smart's first space game was not released to great controversy until seven years after that. "Like them or hate them, my games have come a long way. In an industry where most of the guys and games have come and gone, making it this far is testament to my vision of catering to and being focused on an exclusive and dedicated audience of like-minded gamers," explains Supreme Commander Derek Smart. "I never set out to win them all; just the select few who liked these sort of high-end complex games. By releasing this compendium for free, now that space combat games are apparently making a comeback, my goal is to introduce a new generation to these highly advanced capital ship combat games which still have no equal. My games did it first; and they’re still doing it." Here's word on the remastering:

Remastered for the 2015 Steam release marking the 25 year anniversary since the world and characters that spawned the first Battlecruiser 3000AD (1996)
game were created, thus starting the long journey.

This game is currently FREE exclusively on Steam. We have released it in order to introduce a new generation to these highly advanced capital ship combat games.

And since the graphics are now showing their age, we are in the process of doing another refresh of this game which will be released later this year as Universal Combat Advanced. It will also be available on Steam.

Retaining all the existing gameplay features*, this advanced version will be a complete graphics (space and planetary) engine overhaul, an upgrade of the entire 3D model (ships, stations, planet bases, character models, weapons etc) and arts assets using the more advanced ones from our recent Line Of Defense MMO game (also available here on Steam) as well as upgraded versions of all special effects, audio and other similar game assets. It will also contain a new 32 mission campaign scenario playable with any of the capital ships in the game.

If you enjoy this v2.0 refresh of the game, then you can look forward to an even better experience later this year.

* While there are currently no plans to add any new features, we are working on a surprise feature that will completely blow your mind, while adding an even more immersive experience. HINT: If you haven't yet, check out the Engstrom class carrier, the GCV-Starguard in our Line Of Defense MMO game currently on Steam Early Access. That is the same carrier that is now featured in this Steam release of Universal Combat CE v2.0. And you get to fly it, though you can't do that in Line Of Defense.