Back in 2011, Blackbird Interactive – a company comprised of a number of former Relic employees, announced a game that was a spiritual successor to the beloved grand-scale space RTS, Homeworld; Hardware: Shipwrecked. At the time, THQ still clung to the rights. that game is now officially a Homeworld game.
The game has now been renamed Homeworld: Shipbreakers thanks to a deal between new IP owners Gearbox, and developer Blackbird Interactive. The deal was inked at PAX – and Gearbox will not only offer the rights, they’ll also help with funding.
“These guys have been funded by private equity, but it’s clear it was going to take many millions of dollars more,” Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said. “We’re giving them the brand and the resources to make this happen,” adding that the guys from Gearbox would rather use their money to make sure Homeworld was done right than blow it all “on a bunch of super cars.”
“Hardware, in all respects, was Homeworld,” Blackbird CEO Rob Cunningham told Polygon. “It looked, sounded and felt the same, but we wanted to take that style and experience further. When [Gearbox] acquired the property, it coincided with when we needed to find a partner.”
Suppose this saves Gearbox from making a new Homeworld themselves – and with everything they’ve3 done that isn’t Borderlands, that could be a good thing. Gearbox will still be releasing digital editions of the first two Homeworld games on whatever platforms they can.
Last Updated: September 2, 2013
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 11:04
SO MUCH WIN!
Gareth L
September 2, 2013 at 11:05
I almost dropped my mug of coffee. Such great news!
Now we just need “Project Eternity” to officially become Baldur’s Gate 3. 😛
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 11:08
You and me both! We’ve been waiting so long for this!
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 11:31
I need MOAR Republic Commando, Blackthorne!!!!
Sargon
September 2, 2013 at 11:09
Life is colorful again.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
September 2, 2013 at 11:17
My eyes are filled with tears of joy!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
September 2, 2013 at 11:19
i’m just really glad Gearbox isn’t actually making it. 😀
Good guy Gearbox.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 11:23
The last game Gearbox didn’t make was A:CM 😉
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
September 2, 2013 at 11:28
Yeah, they still pretended they did then. Now they’re just saying they’re bankrolling.
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 11:28
True but this just screams of WIN!
Devourer of Small Bunnies
September 2, 2013 at 11:21
Let me hold my comments in reserve until after release. We know gearbox and their acquisitions and republishing of old titles. Call me a cynic but burn me once and all that…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
September 2, 2013 at 11:22
Well, Hardware is already pretty far along, and looks amazing; Gearbox has just given them extra money to make it even better, and allowed them to use the Homeworld name.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
September 2, 2013 at 11:38
Sure, the guys at BI got a better deal than the lads who were going to remake Duke. Things are somewhat different to whats happened historically. That being said, Homeworld is an IP that I adore and I’d rather run on in with blinkers on than get shafted again.
Its a shame really.
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 11:25
I cant really say how this made me feel but this is close
HvR
September 2, 2013 at 11:32
I went to the next level…
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 11:34
SHUNNED!!!
Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)
September 2, 2013 at 11:45
I feel that this is somehow payback for the Black Friday video… I should have followed my own advice 😛
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 11:46
LOL, just an idea
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aRQKKOq_460sa_v1.gif
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 11:28
Even the music reminds me of Homeworld. Geoff is so excited he tagged it as “Balckbird”
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 11:30
XD
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 11:34
[insert national geographic voice]
“And here we see the Balckbird, seen in its natural habitat, it provides joy to all those who revere it”
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 11:44
LOL
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
September 2, 2013 at 11:35
Gearbox don’t mix well with Aliens, Marines and kicking Alien ass even while chewing gum.
That Tall Twit
September 2, 2013 at 11:39
I loved Homeworld! :}
Brady miaau
September 2, 2013 at 11:43
and 2
SaintsRowLee
September 2, 2013 at 12:02
Homeworld was the game I wanted to play on paper. In real life? The amounts of buttons you had to push to get anything done was just enough to make me cry and realize that maybe I should stick to First Person Shooters, and never attempt Real Time Strategy ever again!
That changed when I read Jenny McCarthy was in Red Alert 3. And I ended up crying again and swore never to touch an RTS game again!
Grimthwacker
September 2, 2013 at 12:35
Hmm… I wonder if the “super cars” comment was aimed at someone in particular…. *cough* cliffy B *cough*
Mike
September 2, 2013 at 12:57
What are the chances this will be out on console?
I really need to get a new pc again. So many games coming out that I want to play. I miss my strategy games.
loftie
September 2, 2013 at 15:40
WAAAA LOVES THIS CANT WAIT OMGWWTBBQ MOAR NOW! seeing as I have to play homeworld and homeworld 2 on my XP boot..