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Homeworld: Shipbreakers drops free-to-play business model
Homeworld: Shipbreakers has abandoned its free-to-play business model in favor of a "proper commercial release," tweeted Gearbox president Randy Pitchford. At PAX, Pitchford announced that Gearbox software would be lending the Homeworld brand to what was then titled Hardware: Shipbreakers. Until that time the game had been in development as an independent production by many of the people who worked on the original Homeworld series, but alongside lending the Homeworld name Gearbox also revealed plans to help fund the game's development. This sudden influx of cash presumably makes relying on a free-to-play business model an unattractive option. Homeworld: Shipbreakers is currently planned to make its PC debut at some point in 2014.
Hardware: Shipbreakers secures Homeworld license, Gearbox funding
Gearbox Software announced at PAX that it has granted Hardware: Shipbreakers developer Blackbird Interactive the official Homeworld license, allowing its creators to release the game under the new title Homeworld: Shipbreakers. Announced in May, Hardware Shipbreakers was to be a spiritual successor to the Homeworld series. Developed by several key Homeworld franchise developers, Shipbreakers promised a similar brand of real-time strategy gameplay bolstered by online competitive multiplayer modes. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford additionally revealed that Gearbox will fund the project, supporting Blackbird's development process and investing "a pretty non-trivial amount of money -- the millions of dollars necessary for them to realize their vision." Pitchford's announcement begins at 5:27:05 in this archived stream. Gearbox acquired the rights to the Homeworld name in April, following the liquidation of former trademark owner THQ. The company previously announced plans to release HD-optimized versions of Homeworld and Homeworld 2 later this year.
Homeworld creators dive into new 3D RTS, Hardware: Shipbreakers
The original team behind the Homeworld series has a new, 3D RTS game called Hardware: Shipbreakers, launching in closed beta in Q4 2013. Shipbreakers comes from Blackbird Interactive, founded by developers who created Homeworld and the executive producer of Homeworld 2, Dan Irish. The first gameplay trailer for Shipbreakers has a squad of air- and land-based vehicles search the remains of a downed spaceship, with a glimpse of the overhead RTS command scheme. All gameplay footage in the trailer is in-game and real-time, Blackbird says. Those interested in getting down with that closed beta can sign up for a potential spot on Blackbird's site.
