Gearbox Software
has acquired the well-regarded strategy game franchise
Homeworld.
The acquisition is consistent with Gearbox's strategy of owning nearly every property it works on. The independent developer also owns the
Borderlands,
Duke Nukem and
Brothers in Arms franchises.
The pairing of Gearbox and
Homeworld is an interesting one. The studio is best known for its expertise in action-heavy first-person shooters, not strategy games.
There are no concrete announcements for new games in the series, but Gearbox said its first matter of business is to bring
Homeworld and
Homeworld 2 to "today's leading digital platforms."
Homeworld was created by
Company of Heroes studio Relic Entertainment. Publisher THQ owned the franchise, but had to sell it off in auction, following its bankruptcy late last year. Relic was sold to Sega, where it is working to complete
Company of Heroes 2.
Gearbox's acquisition was led by the studio's chief creative officer Brian Martel, a professed fan of the franchise.
The acquisition comes shortly after a crowdfunded attempt to buy the franchise
fell short. Gearbox also outbid
Galactic Civilization developer Stardock and
Crusader Kings developer Paradox Interactive.
Other remaining THQ properties that
were awaiting final bids include
Darksiders,
MX and
Red Faction.
Updated with information on additional bidders.
