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Unity-Remade Star Wars Classic Now Downloadable: XWVM, the modification for X-Wing, becomes accessible for players to acquire.

Exceedingly anticipated return of X-Wing gaming series.

Fighter jet X-Wing reappears.
Fighter jet X-Wing reappears.

Unity-Remade Star Wars Classic Now Downloadable: XWVM, the modification for X-Wing, becomes accessible for players to acquire.

Ditch the TIE Fighter dream andLive the X-Wing fantasy,you old Star Wars-loving scoundrel! Sure, TIE Fighter might've been our top pick for Star Wars PC games, but X-Wing? That's where the real action's at. Ever dreamed of swooping in to save Red Two when he shrieks, "Can't shake 'im!"? X-Wing lets you do just that, if you caught the Star Wars fever at the right age.

But like a '93 Hans Solo slingin' Caroline's heart away, X-Wing has its flaws. The Special Edition won't even launch without a joystick, while the Classic version and Collector's CD-ROM are as fast as a T-16 on hydraulics. Yeah, it's over three decades old, but even on a high-end rig, the framerate's all over the damn place. The spaceships look like blocky bits of scrap metal against the flat, 2D planets.

Enter X-Wing Virtual Machine (XWVM), a genius mod that's like slipping an L-sirnten ring onto X-Wing's tired old neck. It runs in Unity, meaning it chugs along smoothly and supports modern resolutions with adjustable settings without a joystick in sight. But, if you're hankerin' for some sweet 3D graphics, grab the HD asset pack. It breathes new life into every ol' banger of a spaceship, upgrades the cockpits, and even tosses a full 3D Death Star in for good measure. Plus, there's VR support, revamped soundtrack, and enhanced in-flight controls for good measure. Oh, and they're planning to toss TIE Fighter into the mix too, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Now, here's the catch: you gotta own X-Wing, which you can snag on either Steam or GOG. Once you've got that sorted, grab the XWVM mod for either Windows or Linux, and any optional extras, like the HD assets and extra in-flight mission dialogue. Unzip, run the downloaded exe to install XWVM, stick the HD assets in the xwvm_Data directory, and finally, run xwvm.exe. It'll find your X-Wing directory automatically, and then you're good to go, pilots! Just don't forget all the keyboard controls, like was it Alt-E to eject?

In case you're a news junkie and wanna stay in the galaxy's loop, check out our picks for the year's biggest gaming news, the PC Gamer team's top choices, favorite freebies, best shooters, RPGs, co-op games, and more.

And now, a word from the wizened doughnut-lovin' sage Jody Macgregor. After breakin' in with code wheels to play Pool of Radiance on his first Commodore 64, this gaming vet co-hosted Australia's first radio show, Zed Games. He's interviewed the likes of Giorgio Moroder and Trent Reznor, written for Rock Paper Shotgun, GamesRadar, Glixel, and Playboy.com, and edited PC Gamer Indie from 2017 to 2018. So grab a cup of blue milk and enjoy his insights on Alien Isolation's audio, the brilliance of Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale, and the sheer weirdness of Lost Ark.

  1. With X-Wing Virtual Machine (XWVM), you can win the fight against the old, blocky graphics of the original X-Wing game, as it offers smoother gameplay, modern resolutions, and even VR support.
  2. If you're a fan of Star Wars and space battles, the X-Wing game, available on Steam or GOG, offers the chance to bet on a thrilling gaming experience, where you can live out your X-Wing fantasy and save Red Two with upgraded graphics and controls.
  3. The entertainment value of X-Wing Virtual Machine doesn't stop at the game itself; it extends to the HD asset pack, which adds 3D graphics, upgraded cockpits, and even a full 3D Death Star, providing a more immersive gaming experience.

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