In multiplayer mode, players are free to take on any role and to explore anywhere from the start. The single-player mode puts the player in the role of Edison Trent, who goes through a series of missions to save the Sirius sector from a mysterious alien force. Other player activities include bounty-hunting and commodity trading.
They also engage in dogfights with other pilots (player- and computer-controlled) to protect traders or engage in piracy themselves. These characters fly single-seater ships, exploring the planets and space stations of 48 known star systems. In the game, players take on the roles of spacecraft pilots. The game was initially announced by Chris Roberts in 1999, and following many production schedule mishaps and a buyout of Digital Anvil by Microsoft, it was eventually released in March 2003. It is a chronological sequel to Digital Anvil's Starlancer, a combat flight simulator released in 2000. Freelancer is a space trading and combat simulation video game developed by Digital Anvil and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
