The Homeworld series of real-time strategy games has a long history of innovation dating back to the original 1999 entry. Acclaimed by critics and the public for bringing true 3-dimensional space combat into the realm of tactical strategy, the Homeworld games have enjoyed a cult following of dedicated fans due to the fact that few games have managed to capture the same tactical depth. Over two decades since Homeworld 2 was released, developer Blackbird Interactive is intent on bringing Homeworld-style sci-fi strategy gameplay into 2023.
Game Rant had the pleasure of interviewing Rory McGuire, Chief Creative Officer of Blackbird Interactive, and Kathryn (Kat) Neale, the Associate Game Director, about the gameplay and design of Homeworld 3. The defining characteristic of Homeworld's iconic gameplay throughout the series has always been the true 3D nature of the battlefield. Players have full freedom to command ships on the horizontal and vertical planes, allowing for previously unheard-of strategic depth. A strong emphasis is also placed on the management of reconnaissance operations, as players attempt to discretely send probes to watch one another while thwarting their opponent's information gathering. Simply beelining one's fleet in a given direction could prove disastrous as, at any time, a well-hidden ambush may strike from above or below with devastating results. Blackbird Interactive has not only preserved this verticality for Homeworld 3 but has expanded on it with a brilliant new cover system.
Blackbird Interactive previously worked on Deserts of Kharak, a land-based real-time strategy Homeworld prequel where environmental factors were crucial to the strategic gameplay. Drawing on experience from developing Deserts of Kharak, Blackbird Interactive has introduced environmental gameplay to the zero gravity realm. In Game Rant's experience playing an early preview of Homeworld 3, it was clear that this new cover system is vital to success in any given mission. Maps feature gigantic wrecks, trenches, and pipes that can be flown into and used for cover or ambush tactics. Describing the cover system, Rory McGuire said to Game Rant:
Previously in Homeworld, it was like playing in a pool where you could go up and down and go side to side, but there was nothing in the pool. The way Homeworld 3 plays, as I'm sure you've seen, it's more like a coral reef. There are things that are in the space, there are things that you need to be aware of, there are spaces that you can go through and go around. There's new terrain and cover the players can use. And the game systems recognize that it's not just the visuals. Things like a missile that is tracking in on you, if you duck behind cover the missile will hit that cover.
The comparison to a coral reef is apt, as fleets are most in danger when they leave the safety of the "reef" and enter the open space between landmarks where an ambush could be around the corner. It's now vitally important for players to not only be aware of the locations of their ships and of enemy units but also of nearby objects that might be useful for offensive or defensive strategies. Many cover objects are also extremely visually striking, with some space wreckages dwarfing even the Death Star in scale. Zooming out from the Mothership until it's just a handful of pixels among an enormous structure provides an epic sense of scale that is a major improvement from the general empty space of prior Homeworld entries.
Homeworld 3 also uses the same realistic ballistics simulation as Homeworld Remastered from 2015, meaning each missile and machine gun burst is a physical entity in the world that can be blocked by this new cover system or evaded through quick maneuvering. With a lack of hit or miss dice rolls under the hood, the moment-to-moment combat feels highly responsive and is visually spectacular as trails of projectiles arc back and forth during engagements and downed fighters crash into nearby terrain objects. Larger destroyed ships can also be used as cover, adding even more tactical depth as even a ruined destroyer-class ship continues to be a factor in gameplay.
It was also clearly important for Blackbird Interactive to consider accessibility with Homeworld 3 while still keeping the experience true to longtime fans. The classic control scheme is nearly identical, and Game Rant had no problem transitioning from Homeworld Remastered to Homeworld 3 using the same familiar hotkeys and camera controls. A new WASD control method was surprisingly comfortable as well, which treats the camera like a drone that is flown forward, backward, and side to side with the WASD keys. The movement cursor handily matches the angle of surface objects, making it easy to order units to specific locations around cover objects. The UI is well-designed, with vital information easily accessible without taking up too much space and players don't lose out on important features like formations and control groups. Overall, Homeworld 3 is shaping up to be the finest entry to the series for both longtime fans and newcomers.
Homeworld 3 is currently in development and will be available on PC in 2023.