Retro Gaming Australia

id Software’s groundbreaking first person shooter Wolfenstein 3D has returned to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN after being delisted in 2012.

Bethesda mouthpiece Pete Hines stated that the game’s delisting was due to the way the ESRB works. Essentially, a rating is issued to a publisher, not a product – so if a publisher purchases another company’s IP, they have to go through the ratings process all over again. Since Bethesda bought id Software and Activision was behind the previous Wolf 3D release, Bethesda had to cough up to have it re-rated.

Seems a bit archaic, no?

Wolfenstein 3D is 20 years old, and Bethesda and id Software are celebrating by releasing the first-person shooter classic as a free browser-based game.

The iOS version, Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum, is also free on the App Store for a very limited time.

If free games were not enough, creator John Carmack has recorded a director’s commentary for a special The Bethesda Podcast where he reminisces about Wolfenstein 3D’s development.

You can play the browser game here, and watch Carmack’s video below. Happy birthday, Wolfenstein 3D!