After a good long wait, Gearbox Software has finally announced the release date for their hugely anticipated Homeworld Remastered Collection.
These are the classic and innovative space-based real-time strategy games that were originally developed by Relic, as the collection contains both the original Homeworld and Homeworld 2.
Unfortunately, Homeworld: Cataclysm is not part of this collection but we are getting a new combined multiplayer setup from the two main games instead.
Set for a February 25th release via Steam, pre-orders are available now. The collector’s edition release date is still unknown at this point though.
The new trailer (shown below) also emphasizes how much work has clearly gone into remastering these games. As the animated cutscenes look positively sumptuous now and the in-game engine has been entirely re-worked as well (shown above).
On a personal note, these games were very influential for me on a creative level. As when I was lead designer on Strike Suit Zero, both Homeworld and Homeworld 2 acted as an aesthetic reference point for the space combat visuals. I even managed to hire as well as work with the very talented Paul Ruskay for the game’s music, on account of his brilliant Homeworld scores.
In addition to the announcement, if you pre-order before February 24th you’ll also get a 15% discount. Now I know pre-orders are a thorny subject as of late, though with good cause, but as the games have already been released in one form already I am hopeful that Gearbox won’t be able to ruin them.
What’s more, the original “classic” versions will also be bundled with this release. So even if the remastered versions don’t cut it, you still have the originals to play with.
Of all the classic PC games I’ve wanted to see remastered these have always been at the top of my list. The fact they’re finally coming out after all this time is just great really.
What with Homeworld: Shipbreakers also on the way too, made by many of the original team behind the classic games, it seems that it's a good time to be a fan of the series.
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