TimeSplitters Rewind is live and free — the fan remake that actually respects the originals

Why this matters: a beloved shooter returns – for free – thanks to fans

TimeSplitters Rewind launching as a free, fan-made “greatest hits” on PC is the kind of gaming news that lands like a surprise party for anyone who grew up on arcade-style, chaotic multiplayer shooters. This caught my attention because it isn’t a cynical cash grab or a half-hearted remaster; it’s a community-driven rebuild of the best bits of the original TimeSplitters trilogy, released with the official blessing of the IP holder and packed with content from day one.

• Free on PC in early access: 28 multiplayer maps, 96 characters, 41 weapons and the original TimeSplitters campaign at launch.
• “Greatest hits” approach: one unified game that aims to capture the spirit of three titles rather than three separate ports.
• Official blessing and original assets were provided years ago, letting the fans finish what the studios never did.
• Expect future updates: more campaigns, maps, modes and community-requested features – but also typical early-access hiccups.

Breaking down the release — what Rewind actually contains

After more than a decade of stop-and-start development, TimeSplitters Rewind arrives in early access with a surprisingly hefty slate: 28 remade multiplayer maps, nearly a hundred playable characters, dozens of weapons, and the full story of the original TimeSplitters. The developers describe it as a single game that captures the spirit of three separate titles — not a three-in-one emulator-style remaster, but a curated “greatest hits” package rebuilt from the ground up.

That approach matters. Instead of chopping the trilogy into separate executables with inconsistent polish, Rewind treats the series as a single multiplayer-first experience. For fans who care most about split-screen chaos, server browser mayhem, and absurd character rosters, that’s the right call. For purists who wanted an exact pixel-for-pixel recreation of all three campaigns’ unique quirks, there will inevitably be differences — and that’s fine, because the project’s stated goal is to synthesize and modernize, not replicate verbatim.

Why this matters now — preservation, community, and the long shadow of Free Radical

Free Radical’s TimeSplitters games are a touchstone for me and many players who prefer tight, fast-paced shooters without the heavy-meta trappings of modern AAA multiplayer. The studio imploded while working on TimeSplitters 4, the IP moved around (Crytek, THQ Nordic/Embracer) and official revivals stalled. Rewind is a corrective: a community refusing to let those levels, modes, and the series’ goofy personality vanish.

It also highlights a current industry pattern: fans finishing what publishers either can’t or won’t. Crytek originally gave its blessing and even shared assets back in 2013; THQ Nordic later allowed that arrangement to continue. That official nod is crucial — it turns Rewind from a legal gray-area mod into an endorsed, essentially sanctioned release. For preservationists and multiplayer communities, that kind of support matters more than a glossy profits-first remaster.

What gamers need to know before you jump in

Rewind is free and available on PC from the project’s official site. It’s early access, which means expect bugs, balance issues, and networking roughness. If you plan on diving in for competitive matches, keep an eye on matchmaking, server stability, and whether dedicated servers or community-hosted options are added in subsequent updates.

If you already own the recent official PlayStation re-releases on PS4/PS5 via PS Plus Premium, those versions are still the easiest way to play the original trilogy with minimal fuss. But Rewind’s multiplayer polish, roster variety, and ongoing development make it the version to watch for anyone who loves frantic, private-match mayhem or wants a modern gateway to TimeSplitters’ absurd charm.

Looking ahead — why the community should stay involved

The best part about Rewind is what comes after launch. The team already promises additional campaigns, maps, characters, modes, and community-requested features. That roadmap turns Rewind into a living project rather than a static nostalgia dump. If the developers sustain momentum and community involvement, this could become the definitive way to play TimeSplitters for years — and a model for how beloved but dormant franchises can be stewarded by fans and rights-holders together.

Skeptical notes: keep an eye on long-term support, potential legal shifts from corporate owners, and whether Rewind can maintain healthy online communities beyond the launch buzz. Still, for now, it’s a rare win: a meaningful preservation effort, built by people who love the game, offered for free to everyone who wants to jump back in.

TL;DR

TimeSplitters Rewind is a fan-made, officially blessed “greatest hits” remake that’s free on PC. It already has tons of content and the potential to become the modern home of TimeSplitters — just expect early-access wobbles and keep watching the updates.