This strategy game is getting one last massive update that's worth checking out

What you need to know

Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox are launching Update 1.3 for Homeworld 3.
This update adds a number of gameplay reworks and improvements, while also coming alongside all of the remaining DLC packs, letting players command the Somtaaw and Taiidan forces in War Games.
This is the last major update planned for Homeworld 3, though Gearbox will be keeping an eye out for server issues.

As a dedicated space strategy enthusiast with a lifelong love for the Homeworld series, I must admit that this latest Update 1.3 from Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Software has left me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. The balance changes, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements in this update have truly breathed new life into Homeworld 3, and the addition of the remaining DLC packs, especially commanding the Somtaaw and Taiidan forces, is nothing short of exhilarating.

It’s a very bittersweet day in the world of space strategy.

On Thursdays, Blackbird Interactive together with Gearbox Software rolled out Update 1.3 for Homeworld 3, introducing notable balance adjustments to enhance gameplay, as well as squashing some bugs and incorporating user-friendly improvements. Earlier, the team had announced that this would be the last content update for Homeworld 3. The rest of the promised DLC packs are set to arrive simultaneously with this update.

As a tech aficionado, I was privileged to get an early peek at the DLC and Update 1.3. Let me share my excitement: The modifications seem substantial, and among them, the overhaul of the armor system stands out, significantly reshaping the rhythm of combat in a captivating way.

New fleets and features

This strategy game is getting one last massive update that's worth checking out

In the course of my investigation, I must say that among the numerous enhancements introduced in Update 1.3, the one that immediately stands out and resonates with me as a researcher is the overhaul of the armor system. This revamp brings about a unique distinction in the level of armor different classes of ships now possess.

There’s some variation but in general, the heavier a ship is the heavier its armor is, providing far more damage negation. Armor can scale from a mere 10% on lightly-armored strikecraft to a battle-changing 30% on destroyers, or even 50% on your Mothership.

This modification coincides with an enhanced reward for striking ships from their rear, a feature that had some presence in the game previously, but is now much more prominent due to a 2.5x multiplier on damage sustained by a ship’s tail. Throughout multiple skirmishes, I discovered I could decimate swarms of adversaries by sneak attacking them from behind, an action that was theoretically feasible before, yet feels more proactive now.

I’ve given the new DLC fleets a spin too, and they each play distinctly from what we have now. The Taiidan employ their Carrier for resource gathering, which requires extra caution when attacking objectives. In contrast, the Somtaaw, known as the “Pilgrim” and “Beast Slayers” fleets due to their history in Homeworld: Cataclysm/Emergence, lack dedicated Support roles but can utilize their Resource Controllers to repair other ships. I’ve found the Somtaaw especially enjoyable and plan on using them for multiple playthroughs.

Ultimately, I’d encourage anyone who picked up Homeworld 3 but fell off to give it another chance, and I’m having a fair bit of fun running War Games again with these new fleets. Still, I wish we could’ve gotten a lot more. Homeworld 3 wasn’t perfect, but I certainly had fun with it at launch, and seeing future campaign DLC was a hope of mine for a long time. With this update marking the last of the new content, it’s clear that won’t be happening.

2024-11-21 21:39

This strategy game is getting one last massive update that’s worth checking out

What you need to know

New fleets and features

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