X-Wing and TIE Fighter now available on Steam
I was very happy when X-Wing and TIE Fighter made their way to GOG last year. And I'm happy again today, because they, along with X-Wing Alliance and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, are now on Steam as well.
The X-Wing Special Edition on Steam includes both the original 1993 DOS version and the 1998 Windows release, as well as the Imperial Pursuit and B-Wing expansions. Likewise, the TIE Fighter Special Edition features the main game and the Defender of the Empire expansion in both 1994 DOS and 1998 Windows flavors, and the Enemies of the Empire expansion that was added to the CD-ROM version of the game that came out in 1995.
X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter includes the Balance of Power expansion that adds Imperial and Rebel campaigns to the game that was originally designed primarily as a multiplayer experience, and X-Wing Alliance comes as-is, because it's the only one in the bunch that didn't actually get an expansion or post-release upgrade.
The system requirements are pretty light, as you might imagine, but bear in mind that the 1998 releases of X-Wing and TIE Fighter require a joystick or controller. The original releases can be played with a mouse and keyboard, but why would you want to do that? Luke didn't blow up the Death Star with 101 keys on his lap, and neither should you! X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Versus, and Alliance are available individually for $10/£7, or all together in the $30/£23 Star Wars: X-Wing Bundle.
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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.