Star Wars: Force Commander was the first Star Wars strategy game rendered fully in 3D. That distinction refers to its game world and visual engine, not merely the presence of a few three-dimensional models. Earlier Star Wars strategy titles used sprites and textured backgrounds, while Force Commander presented units and terrain through a 3D map viewed from above.
LucasArts originally conceived Force Commander as a 2D strategy game. After the design was shown publicly at E3 1998, the company canceled that approach and adopted an optimized 3D engine supplied by Ronin Entertainment. The change contributed to delays: the game moved from an expected late-1998 or early-1999 release to 2000.
Force Commander is a real-time strategy game in which players command Imperial or Rebel forces rather than controlling one infantry character. Its campaign begins with Imperial missions and later follows Brenn's defection to the Rebel Alliance, including battles on Hoth and Endor. A common mix-up is confusing “fully 3D” with modern high-definition graphics; the game was pioneering in presentation but received mixed reviews for blocky visuals, camera issues, and awkward controls.