Wing Commander IV and the FMV future that never quite was

Wing Commander was a popular 1990s space combat simulator series known for strong narratives that switched to full-motion video starting with Wing Commander III, with Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom representing the height of the medium featuring Hollywood budgets, real sets, and an outstanding cast including Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell. As graphical advancements in modern video game systems made it possible for in-game cinematics to achieve impressive visual quality, the use of FMV in mainstream games largely ended by the early 2000s. The article explores how Wing Commander IV pioneered an ambitious FMV-focused approach that did not become the industry standard despite its critical and commercial success.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-03