Star Wars: Fate of the Galaxy launches for free after fan game spends two decades in development

After two decades in development, Star Wars: Fate of the Galaxy is now available to play as a free download.

Developed by a group of passionate Star Wars fans, Fate of the Galaxy is a total conversion mod for FreeSpace 2 that has been in development since 2007, and it’s now available for you to download for free.

The idea behind the mod is that it’s a true space combat flight simulator, with 64 ships to fly across Rebel and Imperial factions, with working cockpits and virtual reality support.

There are also campaigns for both sides as well, which cover the events of the movies and other aspects of the Star Wars universe.

The project’s goal is to “deliver starfighter combat that captures the look and feel of the movies,” reads a blurb on the official website for Fate of the Galaxy.

Considering the 19-year development cycle, there’s a huge amount of content on offer for you to check out. You can play Rebel Alliance, Galactic Empire, or zip around the galaxy as an independent privateer. The campaigns are interconnected and feature customisable options that allow you to tailor the experience.

Each of the 64 ships included in the mod have their own unique cockpit, as well as their own handling, speed, and controls. You’re also given multiple options for how you want to fly, whether that’s with mouse and keyboard, controller, or even a flight stick.

Star Wars: Fate of the Galaxy is built in the FSO engine, an open-source space combat game engine that is based on FreeSpace 2. Many other open-source projects are also built in this engine, particularly large total conversions based on other intellectual properties.

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It’s been a big year for Star Wars games

2026 has been a big year for Star Wars games, with the release of two major new titles in Star Wars: Zero Company and Star Wars Galactic Racer.

Star Wars: Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game set during the Clone Wars where you play as a ragtag team of mercenaries who go on covert missions for the Republic.

Meanwhile, Star Wars Galactic Racer is a podracing game set in the Star Wars universe, which features different planets and environments for players to boast their flying skills.

In addition to this, we know of a few more Star Wars games that are currently in development. Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is coming from former BioWare developer Casey Hudson, while Respawn’s follow-up to Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is also in development.

Meanwhile, Star Wars Eclipse and the remake of Knights of the Old Republic are also in the works, but both games currently only have brief teasers from their respective publishers, and there’s no sign of them getting new updates any time soon.

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