Does Red Ace Squadron run on Windows 11?
Yes. The Definitive Edition runs natively on Windows 11 with no compatibility mode required, in true 2560×1440 widescreen, and the crash-freeze that plagued the original on modern PCs is permanently fixed.
Do I need an Epic Games account to play online?
No. Online multiplayer uses Epic Online Services anonymously through a device identifier. You never create or link an Epic account, and single-player works fully offline.
Is multiplayer working right now?
It is in final testing. The connection layer is already verified against Epic’s live servers, and the game’s original multiplayer (up to 8 pilots, map voting, private password servers, dedicated servers) returns when testing completes. Watch this site for the announcement.
Is this an official release? Is it legal?
It is an independent community restoration made with the blessing of one of the original developers. The game itself is the original 2001 release at its core, restored to run well on modern Windows. It is not sold as an official Small Rockets product.
How much will it cost?
Pricing will be announced with the release. The goal of the project is to get the game back into as many hands as possible.
When is the release?
Soon. The game is feature-complete and in final testing; the installer is being packaged and code-signed. The download page on this site goes live the moment it ships.
I still have my old CD or download from 2001. Will it work?
The original release generally struggles on modern Windows: crashes, no widescreen, and multiplayer that died with the GameSpy service in 2014. The Definitive Edition exists precisely to fix all three.
Does it run on Mac or Linux?
It is a Windows game. On Linux, players report classic Windows titles often run under Wine or Proton, but we have not tested it and make no promises. There is no macOS version.
Does it run on Windows-on-ARM devices?
Yes, through the x86 emulation built into Windows 11 on ARM. Same installer, no special steps.
Can I host my own server?
Yes. The game ships with its original dedicated server, and the Definitive Edition brings server browsing back. Hosting instructions arrive with the release.
How many missions and planes are there?
Ten campaign missions across the Allied and Central Powers campaigns, each with a harder Master Mode variant, plus three training missions and a hidden Secret Mission: 24 in all, across 3 worlds. Eleven real WWI aircraft are modeled, nine flyable, eight selectable in multiplayer.