Homeworld 3
Blackbird Interactive will soon release the final updates for Homeworld 3, concluding the Season 1 DLC content. Homeworld 3 launched on May 13, 2024 and our review of the game is available, here.
The release will be a combination of two premium DLC packs plus free content updates. These updates are designed to offer a complete look at Homeworld 3. Premium DLC packs will enhance War Games mode, while free content will improve game mechanics and provide optimizations to existing features. Blackbird Interactive says the November 21 sale will also include performance improvements.
Two factions from the Homeworld universe form the basis of the DLC packs. They are the Somtaaw and Taiidan. These two new packs will expand the War Games mode. Each faction has its own specific ships with different capabilities, two unique fleets, many new artifacts, and ten new challenges. Depending on which faction you choose to play, you will need new combat strategies.
Taiidan ships harken back to the classic designs of the first Homeworld. They differ from all other War Game fleets in that they are resource independent. They do not depend on the Carrier or its Resource Collectors. The Taiidan faction also has a new offensive tool at its disposal, the Taiidan Missile Destroyer.
New clans, new strategies
The Somtaaw faction closely resembles the dwarves of Tolkien's Middle Earth. They are great miners. This was true on the Hiigaran's lost homeworld of Kharak, and they continued this tradition into the far reaches of space. Somtaaw boats reflect their mining heritage. Their ability to destroy asteroids led them to have armed resource carriers and ion beam turrets on their aircraft carriers.
Player feedback from the game's original release is the basis for the free update. The ability to perform a hyperspace jump in Skirmish mode and the ability to decide when to move on to the next campaign are two of the most requested features. Another common comment was that sourcing was too efficient. Blackbird Interactive has listened to the fans and done so.
The hyperspace capabilities in Homeworld 3 differ from previous games where it was a global setting. This time, hyperspace capabilities are unlocked through individual ship type research options. Therefore, each unit of the Frigate, Capital and Mothership classes will have a hyperspace core research option. Players unlock it in the same way as other technological advances. The use of hyperspace remains the same. The cost of each jump, determined by its length in RU, requires careful consideration to determine whether to surprise your opponent.
On the other hand, you can research the abilities of the hyperspatial inhibitor to defend against such attacks. This ability is available for the Hiigaran Support Frigate and the Incarnate Disruption Corvette. The Hyperspace Inhibitor skill creates a protective sphere that blocks the passage of Hyperspace. If the Inhibitor ability is active, the inhibitor field will instantly force any ship that passes through it during a Hyperspace Jump out of Hyperspace.
Resources? We don't need stinking resources!
Players said the abundance of resources made strategy unnecessary. They have the resources to do everything in the current state of the game. Homeworld 3 reduced micromanagement. An unfortunate side effect of doing so eliminated key strategic decisions related to economic development, present in previous titles. Previously, players had to carefully balance resource investment with technological progression and defense. To fix the issue, the developers made several changes. Resource rates are reduced by a significant amount. The developers also reduced the starting resources in Skirmish to make early game decisions more crucial. Finally, developers significantly increased the cost of resource controllers to make them a riskier and more significant investment. These changes aim to reintroduce the stress and rewards of economic decision-making.
The net result of all these changes should return Homeworld 3's gameplay to its roots. Additionally, the new DLC will deepen the strategy and gameplay.
You'll be able to find out for yourself when the new update arrives on November 21, 2024.
Thanks for keeping it locked to COGconnected.
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