Incoming Transmission: Homeworld 3 is Happening!
Written by Jonathan Lee. August 31, 2019, 11:00 AM. Tweet to: @Writerscube
Homeworld 3: In Something New, a Classic Series Returns
Just announced yesterday on August 30, 2019, Gearbox and Blackbird Interactive have announced that there will be another installment to the revolutionary 3D-combat space RTS series of Homeworld. The last we had seen of the Homeworld Universe was the prequel installment, Deserts of Kharak. Now, Homeworld 3 will propel the narrative forward to after the events of Homeworld and Homeworld 2. And what better way to kick it off than with a tantalizing trailer?
A New Adventure with a Familiar Feel
The first things you might notice in that trailer is the familiar artistic direction and music. That’s because Blackbird Interactive is at the helm, and they were founded by the Art Director of the original Homeworld game, Rob Cunningham. The DNA of the beloved series indeed lives on, at least aesthetically. But accordingly to the description in the Homeworld 3 YouTube trailer, we can look forward to “a gripping continuation of the story, fully 3D combat, and the classic RTS elements you expect”. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like good things to come!
You also might’ve noticed that the trailer involves a very familiar sight that we last saw in Homeworld 2… the Eye of Aarran. The enigmatic gate that leads to a whole network of hyperspace gates, essentially propelling our protagonists into a potentially galactic-faring race instead of just a people looking for their home. This is their Golden Age as well as their true rebirth after their self-rediscovery.
Or is it?
What Can We Expect of Homeworld 3?
Right now there’s nothing indicating what challenges we’ll encounter. Surely though, there will be more than just jealous Taiidan emperors, nanobot parasites, and prophecy-bent fanatical space warlords wanting to keep the People of Hiigara down. There’s a whole galaxy of possibilities now being opened up to the Hiigaran narrative. Given what experienced players have faced up to now, my money’s on more alien foes to spice things up, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if old foes appear to try taking the power of the hyperspace network for themselves.
New to Homeworld?
If you’re new to the series, but you love some good space combat, Homeworld is easily a perfect choice. It’s more involved than the 4X Space Sims in that you command your fleet with the precision of a traditional RTS, rather than commanding fleets to go about and do their thing. With that, there’s high drama in every battle. The narrative lens is focused enough that you’ll get to follow characters, good and bad. And the best part, of course, is seeing all the space ships in amazing, close-up detail!
The narrative of the Homeworld series has mainly revolved around the Kushan people seeking their true homeworld of Hiigara and defending it. After discovering on the desert planet of Kharak that they hadn’t always lived on the desert world. Driven by a newfound purpose of self-discovery, the Kushan became united, and took to space to find their homeworld. However, they would quickly run into the Taiidan, an enormous empire that sought to keep the Kushan on Kharak. Eventually, the Kushan fight their way to their homeworld of Hiigara and become the Hiigarans once more.
In-between Homeworld and Homeworld 2, we experience a short chapter of new-Hiigaran history in Homeworld Cataclysm. In this expansion, a parasitic nanobot scourge called The Beast throws the Hiigaran civilization into disarray. Turns out the Taiidan Empire survived in the form of the nasty Taiidan Imperialists. But thanks to the good Taiidan Republic, the Hiigarans had the support to defeat the Imperialists. Unfortunately, how canonical this chapter is is still in debate.
A hundred years after the first Homeworld game, Homeworld 2 continues the story with the Hiigarans encountering the Vaygr. This new enemy was led by a maniacal warlord who believes himself to be a Chosen One of sorts. But a climatic battle for the fate of Hiigara leads to the defeat of the Vaygr and the grand discovery of the Hyperspace Network.
Final Thoughts
A lot of Homeworld fans have been waiting to see what happens next. And indeed, it’s been quite a bit of waiting. But whether you’re an old veteran or a newcomer, the Homeworld series has been a gift to the RTS and space combat genres. If you haven’t played any of them, I highly recommend you grab the Homeworld Remastered Collection and Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak (Both on Steam sale until September 3). Along with giving the Space RTS genre the boost it needed, the series packs an engaging story, and vibrant art and musical direction. Then comes the addicting gameplay that any RTS-fan will recognize instantly. So get ready, folks… the Space RTS is about to take off, again!
