Homeworld returns
Over the weekend, during PAX South in San Antonio, Gearbox Software announced the 25th February release date for their Homeworld Remastered Collection for Windows PC.
Originally published by Sierra, Relic's Homeworld games are critically acclaimed real-time strategy 3D space fleet combat games. Following the acquisition of the IP from the now defunct THQ, Borderlands developer, Gearbox have been working on bringing two of the greatest strategy games ever created to a new audience.
Borrowing heavily from the likes of Battlestar Galactica, 1999's Homeworld follows the voyage of a massive colony ship designed by the scientist Karan S'jet, who physically integrated herself into the mothership as the Fleet Command system.
Players use resource collectors to mine asteroids for the raw materials to build a space fleet to support the mothership on its journey. Combat involved hundreds of spacecraft such as fighters, corvettes and battlecrusers creating some of the most epic space battles ever seen in a video games.
As well as a story-based campaign mode the Homeworld games also feature a very rewarding multi-player combat mode.
The Homeworld Remastered Collection brings together new, updated versions of both Homeworld and Homeworld 2 with new remixed audio, high-res textures and models all displayed in resolutions up to 4K. Homeworld's original audio and video artists have also been bought on board to recreate their cinematic scenes in high fidelity.
The new package includes access to the beta version of a new multiplayer mode. Bringing together elements from both of the original games, using the original code, the new multiplayer will be shaped using feedback from fans.
As well as the remastered versions, the collection also features archival versions of Homeworld Classic and Homeworld 2 Classic, preserving the original releases, but with compatibility for modern operating systems.
In addition to re-releasing Homeworld and Homeworld 2 in both classic and remastered form, Gearbox Software has paired with Blackbird Interactive – a studio founded by Homeworld veterans Rob Cunningham and Aaron Kambeitz – to create an all-new entry in the Homeworld series for PC. Titled Homeworld Shipbreakers, the upcoming strategy game takes place before the events of the first Homeworld and serves as a prequel to the series.
"It is a very special and rare thing to see a project so close to your heart not only get re-released, but remastered with such loving care and attention," said Rob Cunningham, who co-founded Relic Entertainment and served as the original art director of Homeworld. He later co-founded Blackbird Interactive, which is developing Homeworld Shipbreakers. "That fact alone is a wonderful privilege for me, but it is beyond rare to be working on an all-new entry as well! I have been sucked into a bubbling time-vortex hot tub of Homeworld – and I love it."
The Homeworld Remastered Collection will be available via Valve's Steam service on 25th February. A very limited number of physical special collector's edition are available for preorder worldwide from amazon.co.uk and amazon.de.
