Command & Conquer: Renegade

Did You Know?

• Renegade X, a standalone freeware game created by independent volunteer studio Totem Arts, released its open beta on February 26, 2014.
• EA open-sourced the game in February 2025.

Synopsis

The story takes place during the final days of the First Tiberium War. GDI's top three Tiberium research specialists have been abducted by the Brotherhood of Nod. The player controls GDI commando Captain Nick "Havoc" Parker, assigned to rescue them. Missions occur worldwide in various climates and settings. It is later revealed the specialists were forced to work on Project Re-Genesis, an attempt to create genetically enhanced super-soldiers using Tiberium.

Development

The game engine, called the Renegade engine or Westwood 3D, was developed in-house by Westwood and designed to support real-world physics and seamless indoor-outdoor movement. It was later reused as the base of the SAGE engine used in several later games. When the game missed its shipping date, Westwood made a comedic video titled Havoc Takes on Westwood, in which Havoc goes to Westwood Studios to ensure the game does not miss its shipping date again; the shipping date was missed once more after the video. Early promotional screenshots showed Nod troopers in urban camouflage rather than the red jumpsuits seen in the final game. Renegade was re-released in EA Classics boxes and included in two Command & Conquer compilations.

Reception

In the United States, Renegade sold 250,000 copies and earned $7.8 million by August 2006, ranking as the country's 79th best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Metacritic reported generally favorable reviews. Greg Kasavin of GameSpot noted that the game has noticeable problems but that C&C fans might have too much fun to care, also stating that Westwood had never made a shooter before. GameSpot named Renegade a runner-up for its February 2002 Game of the Month award. IGN's Steve Butts criticized the single-player game as repetitive and cramped, and faulted the AI for lacking sophistication. The game was praised for its online play; The Gamers' Temple commended Westwood's tradition of excellent multiplayer support. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Renegade for Online Gameplay of the Year at the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.