If you’ve been waiting for a new TimeSplitters game, your patience has finally paid off. TimeSplitters Rewind, the ambitious fan project that’s been stuck in development hell since 2012, launched in early access on November 23, 2025. And yes, it’s completely free. No microtransactions, no hidden costs, just pure nostalgia wrapped in a modern engine. For fans of the iconic PlayStation 2 trilogy, this might be the best gaming news of the year.
What Exactly Is TimeSplitters Rewind
TimeSplitters Rewind isn’t just a simple remaster or HD collection. It’s a greatest hits compilation that pulls together maps, modes, leagues, challenges, and story content from all three original TimeSplitters games into one unified experience. Think of it as a love letter to the series rather than three separate remakes.
Developed by Cinder Interactive, this fan project has been authorized to exist but isn’t affiliated with the original creators at Free Radical Design. Since the team doesn’t own the intellectual property, they’re releasing everything for free. That’s right, completely free download with no strings attached.
The Launch Content
The early access version that dropped on November 23 comes packed with content. You’re getting 28 maps right out of the gate, though the goal is to eventually include everything from the original trilogy. The launch focuses on a carefully curated selection of classic content mixed with some brand-new additions.
Here’s what you can dive into immediately: 51 arcade leagues to test your skills, 32 challenges to complete, and 96 characters to play as. The game includes 41 weapons from across the series and 20 different arcade game modes. Both online and offline story modes are available, plus arcade mode with bot support for solo or multiplayer sessions.
New and Updated Modes
Cinder Interactive didn’t just recreate the old games. They added Team Elimination as a completely new game mode and gave Last Stand a significant update. Online multiplayer supports up to 10 players, letting you finally experience TimeSplitters chaos with people around the world instead of just your living room.
The current early access build includes the complete version of TimeSplitters 1. The team plans to gradually incorporate content from TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect over time through updates. This phased approach lets them polish each game’s content properly rather than rushing everything out at once.
A 12-Year Journey
The road to release has been anything but smooth. TimeSplitters Rewind was first announced way back in 2012 when it was called the TimeSplitters CryEngine mod. The original plan was to rebuild the games using CryEngine technology provided by Crytek, who even gave the team full access to the engine’s source code.
But access to code doesn’t automatically translate to progress. The CryEngine proved challenging for volunteer developers who couldn’t dedicate full-time hours to learning its complexities. The project crawled along with frequent stalls where no activity happened for weeks at a time.
Development Challenges
Manpower has been the biggest obstacle throughout development. As a fan project relying on volunteers, Cinder Interactive struggled to find and retain experienced developers, especially environment artists. At one point, character and weapon artists had to teach themselves environment art just to finish maps.
The project also dealt with security concerns. For years, the development build was held exclusively by one developer due to fears about leaks. This bottleneck slowed progress significantly since collaboration was limited.
Eventually, the team made the decision to scrap CryEngine entirely and rebuild everything in Unreal Engine. This switch gave them access to more documentation, better community support, and tools that volunteer developers could actually learn on their own time. It was a painful reset, but ultimately the right call.
What Made TimeSplitters Special
For younger gamers who missed the PlayStation 2 era, you might be wondering what the fuss is about. TimeSplitters was created by Free Radical Design, a studio formed by former Rare developers who worked on GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. The DNA of those legendary N64 shooters runs through every TimeSplitters game.
The series launched alongside the PS2 in 2000, becoming one of the console’s premier first-person shooters. What set it apart was the time travel premise that let you play across wildly different eras, from the Wild West to dystopian futures. The variety kept things fresh across missions.
But the real magic was in the multiplayer. Split-screen matches with friends, customizable bots with adjustable difficulty and personality traits, and the MapMaker level editor that let players create their own arenas. TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect expanded on these features, adding story mode objectives to custom maps and eventually online sharing.
Technical Requirements
One of the smartest decisions Cinder Interactive made was setting the Steam Deck with Proton as the minimum specification. That means if you can run games on a Steam Deck, you can run TimeSplitters Rewind. For desktop players, the minimum requirements are an Intel Atom C2750 processor, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 graphics card.
These modest requirements mean the game will run on a huge range of systems, including older PCs that struggle with modern AAA releases. Graphics won’t blow you away since this is a fan project recreating PS2-era games, but that’s beside the point. TimeSplitters was never about cutting-edge visuals. It was about tight gameplay and ridiculous fun.
How to Get It
TimeSplitters Rewind is available for free download directly from the official website at timesplittersrewind.com. The team is distributing it independently rather than through Steam, likely to avoid any potential legal complications with platform policies around fan projects.
Installation is straightforward. Download the client, extract it, and launch. The game supports both Windows and Linux systems. Since it’s designed to run on Steam Deck via Proton, Linux compatibility is baked in from the start.
The Official Timeline Returns
TimeSplitters Rewind launching in 2025 is especially meaningful because it coincides with renewed interest in the franchise. The original trilogy was re-released as PS2 Classics for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2024, complete with trophy support, a rewind feature, and improved loading times.
There’s also an official TimeSplitters game in development. THQ Nordic acquired the franchise rights in 2018 and announced plans for a new entry. However, that project appears to still be years away from release. TimeSplitters Rewind fills the gap perfectly, giving starving fans something to play right now.
Community Response
The Reddit gaming community erupted when the release trailer dropped. Players who grew up with the series expressed disbelief that the project actually launched after more than a decade of waiting. Some were concerned about whether story content from TimeSplitters 2 and 3 would make it in, but developers confirmed that’s the long-term goal.
The early access label is important here. This isn’t the complete vision yet. Future updates will bring additional maps, characters, game modes, and community-requested features. The team has been transparent about this being a work in progress that will evolve based on player feedback.
What’s Next
Cinder Interactive published the official website on the 25th anniversary of the original game’s release, setting November 23, 2025, as the target date. They hit that deadline, which itself is remarkable given the project’s troubled history.
Future plans include gradually incorporating the full content libraries from TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect. The team is also open to community suggestions for new features, modes, and improvements. With the foundation finally stable and released, updates should come more consistently than during the development phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TimeSplitters Rewind free to play?
Yes, TimeSplitters Rewind is completely free with no microtransactions or hidden costs. Since the developers don’t own the intellectual property rights to TimeSplitters, they’re releasing it as a free fan project.
When did TimeSplitters Rewind launch?
TimeSplitters Rewind entered early access on November 23, 2025, after more than 12 years in development. The release trailer premiered on the same day.
Where can I download TimeSplitters Rewind?
You can download TimeSplitters Rewind directly from the official website at timesplittersrewind.com. The game is available for Windows and Linux systems.
What content is included in the early access version?
The early access launch includes 28 maps, 51 arcade leagues, 32 challenges, 96 characters, 41 weapons, and 20 arcade game modes. Both online and offline story modes are available, along with 10-player online multiplayer and bot support.
Does TimeSplitters Rewind include all three original games?
The current early access build includes the complete version of TimeSplitters 1. Content from TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect will be added through future updates as the project continues development.
Who developed TimeSplitters Rewind?
TimeSplitters Rewind is developed by Cinder Interactive, a team of volunteer fans who have been working on the project since 2012. It’s not affiliated with Free Radical Design, the original creators of TimeSplitters.
What are the system requirements?
The minimum requirements are an Intel Atom C2750 processor, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 graphics card. The game is optimized to run on Steam Deck with Proton, meaning it should work on a wide range of systems.
Will TimeSplitters Rewind have splitscreen multiplayer?
The current early access version supports online and offline multiplayer with bots. Community members have requested splitscreen functionality, which may be added in future updates based on player feedback.
Conclusion
TimeSplitters Rewind’s launch feels like a minor miracle. Fan projects this ambitious rarely make it past the announcement phase, let alone survive 12 years of development hell and actually release. The fact that Cinder Interactive pushed through all the obstacles and delivered a playable build deserves serious respect.
Is it perfect? No, it’s early access for a reason. But it’s playable, it’s free, and it captures the spirit of what made TimeSplitters special in the first place. For fans who have been waiting decades for someone, anyone, to do something with this dormant franchise, TimeSplitters Rewind is a gift.
The gaming industry has changed dramatically since TimeSplitters 2 dropped in 2002. Online multiplayer replaced split-screen, live service models replaced complete games, and massive budgets became necessary to compete. TimeSplitters Rewind is a reminder of a simpler era when local multiplayer ruled, bots filled empty slots, and players created their own content through in-game editors. If you miss that era or never experienced it, now’s your chance. Download it, gather some friends, and see what gaming used to feel like. Just don’t be surprised when you lose hours to arcade leagues at three in the morning.