No artist has a free hand. Just as the architect cannot create something unsound, the sculptor cannot create something that moves or speaks. The musician cannot include visuals, and cannot use sounds that are outside the range of human hearing. The painter cannot use motion.
I would argue that limitations are part of what creates truly great art. Specifically, transcending the limitations to create something altogether other, evoking an unexpected reaction. For example, a painting that evokes the feeling of motion is far more impressive than a short clip of an object in motion. We want things that are more than the sum of their parts.
It is different from sculpture in that the artist does not have a free hand, much like the video game creators don't have a free hand compared to novelists or even cinematographers (who are limited compare to novelists and painters but not as much). Limitations are the bane of choice, and choice is the fundamental aspect of art.