Summary
Homeworld 3, the next installment in the legendaryHomeworldsci-fi RTS franchise, has been delayed just days after a demo for the game was made public. While carrying the spirit of the series, many found the demo to suffer from several issues and other problems.
The originalHomeworldfrom 1999, which was developed by Relic Entertainment, is widely considered to be the first strategy game to use a fully 3D environment. A direct sequel,Homeworld 2, was launched in 2003 and received just as much praise as its predecessor. In 2019,Homeworld 3was announced, with the game being developed by Blackbird Interactive, a studio formed by former Relic Entertainment members. This third entry in the series was set to be released on March 8, but the developers have announced that the launch has been postponed.
Homeworld 3’s global release has been delayed to May 13, which was confirmed by Blackbird Interactive in a recent joint statement with Gearbox Publishing. The studio told fans that the move would allow for the implementation of tweaks that would makeHomeworld 3meet Blackbird Interactive’s standards. Prior to this,Homeworld 3already experienced several delays, first in 2022, which was when it was initially expected to launch, then in May of last year. In 2023, Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Publishing citedHomeworld 3’s lack of polish and refinement as well when they announced the game’s delay.
The most recent delay was announced just days after a demo forHomeworld 3was made publicly available on PC. This most recent demo gave people the opportunity to check outHomeworld 3’s roguelike War Games mode. While many players, includingHomeworldveterans, found the demo to be fun, others complained of its many issues, specifically the clunky camera system and controls. Blackbird Interactive delayed the launch ofHomeworld 3to May after the company received feedback from both demo testers and a special group of outside players that the studio gathered.
Homeworld 3 Launch Date
A lot of fans reacted calmly to the news ofHomeworld 3’s most recent delay. On Twitter, some users thanked Blackbird Interactive for its transparency, while others encouraged the studio to take its time in developing the game. WithHomeworldbeing among thevideo game franchises expected to make a comeback in 2024, fans of the series understandably wantHomeworld 3to launch in a good state.
Homeworld 3 War Gameswill be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store until February 12. The demo forHomeworld 3is featured in the ongoing Next Fest, one ofSteam’s many sales events for 2024. This recurring week-long event highlights free playable demos of upcoming games, as well as gives developers the chance to do livestreams and chats.
Homeworld 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the award-winning story unfolds on a galactic scale.Strategic freedom is yours. Hulking space derelicts called megaliths bring 3D terrain into the classic Homeworld battlespace. Use the crumbling remains of an ancient civilization to funnel foes into a brilliant ambush or hide your fleet from powerful enemies. Fortresses teem with menacing turrets and invite your strike craft into dangerous trench runs deep behind enemy lines. But not everything is in your control. Dangerous space phenomena like particle storms and asteroid fields will test even senior commanders.Attack head-on, with a clever flank, or even from above and below your foes. Homeworld 3’s fully simulated ballistics make line of sight and cover critical strategic considerations. Your fleet persists from mission to mission. Scars on your ships linger. Strike craft pilots and capital ship captains pass along critical information through battlefield chatter.
