During The Game Awards 2021, Gearbox Software and Blackbird Interactive finally showcased the gameplay of Homeworld 3. The triumphant return of the classic series marks the first original, non-spinoff Homeworld game since 2003's Homeworld 2.
The Homeworld series is an iconic section of the real-time strategy genre, giving players command of massive fleets to defend the Kushan Mothership in fully 3D environments. Homeworld 3 looks to continue the series as a direct sequel, unlike the 2016 prequel Deserts of Kharak.
Ever since Homeworld 3 started funding on Fig back in 2019, news about Homeworld 3 has been somewhat sparse. Coverage of the game could have also contributed, since RTS games are becoming an increasingly niche genre in recent years, possibly due to its lack of presence on consoles. Finally, though, the gameplay debut of Homeworld 3 is out and already looking like an incredibly promising follow-up. The release is slated for Q4 2022 but presumably more news will follow to keep fans excited.
While gameplay is seen in the trailer, the command interface itself does not appear. However, it is unlikely that Blackbird Interactive will change it very much from the established one used in the original series and Deserts of Kharak. Gameplay in both is segmented, with sweeping strategic decisions and long-distance movement made through a zoomed-out Sensors Manager view while more precise commands such as specific targets can be issued through the normal, closer view. Gamers play missions throughout extensive campaigns, collecting resources to expand a fleet of combat and research ships.
The story possibilities for Homeworld 3 are many; the lore of the Homeworld series is deep, with many locations, units and characters already established. The ending of Homeworld 2 leaves many possibilities for the following story, but how long after Homeworld 2's ending the third game begins remains to be seen. Given the positive reception Homeworld Remastered Collection received, this new chapter in the Homeworld universe will likely be a memorable one.
While most of the Homeworld games are available on Steam as part of the remastered collection, Homeworld Cataclysm has somehow slipped under the radar; it was excluded from the Homeworld remastered collection, despite it having its own story and taking a very different and unique approach to the Homeworld universe. The issue could be in the name; "Cataclysm" is a registered trademark of Blizzard Entertainment, making the legality of using the word difficult. However, Homeworld Cataclysm was officially re-released on Good Old Games as Homeworld Emergence, so the more likely reason is that the original source code could have been lost over the years, a sadly common occurrence in game development.