F-22: Air Dominance Fighter Returns - Releasing Soon on Steam
A true icon of the 1990s golden age of combat flight simulation is preparing for takeoff once again. F-22: Air Dominance Fighter, originally developed by Digital Image Design, is releasing soon on Steam, published by MicroProse-a name synonymous with some of the most respected and influential PC flight simulations ever made.
Originally renowned for striking a rare balance between accessibility and authenticity, F-22: Air Dominance Fighter puts players in control of one of the most advanced jet fighters ever conceived. More than a cockpit experience, the game also allows players to command the wider air war as an AWACS controller-overseeing the entire theatre, directing allied aircraft, observing every engagement in real time, and instantly jumping into the cockpit of any F-22 when the situation demands it.
Set in a vast, target-rich Red Sea theatre, the game offers over 90 missions across seven campaigns, ranging from stealth interception and air superiority to airfield attacks and naval strikes. Deeply modelled avionics, radar, and flight dynamics deliver a convincing sense of realism, while intuitive controls ensure players can jump straight into the action.
Modern Enhancements for Today’s Pilots
This new Steam release, developed by Digital Image Design, stays faithful to the original vision while introducing carefully selected upgrades that enhance immersion, replayability, and longevity for a modern audience:
6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) head tracking, dramatically improving cockpit awareness and immersion
Flexible visual presentation, from authentic 320×200 retro resolutions to crisp, anti-aliased 4K Ultra HD
17 new achievements designed to reward experimentation and mastery, adding fresh replay value even for veteran pilots
Modding support, opening the door to community-created content and already attracting well-known modders
Nearly 100 enhancements and fixes compared to the original 1997 release, ensuring smooth play on modern systems
A Landmark Flight Simulator of 1997
When F-22: Air Dominance Fighter originally launched in 1997, Digital Image Design pushed the boundaries of what a combat flight simulator could be, delivering one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking titles of its era. Covering an unprecedented 4.5 million square kilometres across eight countries in the Red Sea region, it delivered a fully dynamic world where the war unfolded in real time-air, land, and sea units operating simultaneously along vital supply routes.
The game was ahead of its time in several key areas:
A 6 degrees-of-freedom flight model that pushed realism beyond contemporary standards
The ability to command the battle from an AWACS airborne control post, a feature rarely seen in flight sims at the time
Advanced AI dogfighting systems and realistic avionics inspired by real F-22 technology
A comprehensive training suite covering take-off, landing, refuelling, and weapons employment
Innovative systems such as ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) for post-mission analysis, and SmartMuse, a context-sensitive music system that adapted dynamically to the action
Many of these systems-from AWACS command to a fully dynamic world and advanced AI-reflected Digital Image Design’s long-standing focus on systemic depth, large-scale simulation, and player-driven combat outcomes.
These innovations earned the game widespread acclaim, including being voted “Best Ever Flight Sim” by PC Gamer in November 1997. For many players, F-22: Air Dominance Fighter defined what a modern combat flight simulator could be: large in scope, technically daring, and endlessly replayable.