Homeworld 3 Devs Reveal What Is Being Changed Thanks To Player Feedback
Last month, Homeworld 3 developer Blackbird Interactive announced it was pushing the game’s release date to May, in order to implement player feedback from February’s open demo. Now, the devs have revealed what exactly they’re working on to get the long-awaited sequel ready for release in May.
In a new update on the game’s Steam page, Blackbird has outlined five major changes they’re implementing in response to player feedback, including tweaks that bring the new title closer in line with classic Homeworld games.
First up, the controls are getting reworked in response to player feedback that said the Modern control scheme was unintuitive and the Classic controls didn’t feel enough like those classic games. First and foremost, Blackbird is making every keyboard input rebindable, meaning players can customize the controls to their liking if the defaults still don’t hit the mark.
The default hotkeys are also getting some sweeping changes, to make the overall experience better for players who don’t want to spend a lot of time customizing their input. There are two defaults for hotkeys, one of them the revamped Modern layout, and one replicating the Homeworld 2 Remastered hotkeys. The camera movement has also seen some tweaks, with the devs saying it handles more like you may remember from Homeworld 2 Remastered now.
The second point of business for the developers is to make combat more exciting, by tweaking some of the more tedious aspects of combat. The changes will make formations feel more organic, as well as making them more strategically useful. Support Frigates now also have more autonomy to heal friendly ships without directly being instructed to. All ships will now have 30% more hitpoints, and the developers have also increased both the duration and cooldown on abilities to make their use more strategic and less spammy.
In terms of bringing back more of that classic Homeworld feel, Blackbird has also fixed the classic Attack Move, where ships can attack in one direction while moving in a different one. The studio explains that Attack Move wasn’t performing as expected in the demo due to needing more time to properly implement it, as well as a bug that impacted certain larger ships.
A number of quality-of-life updates are also in line for Homeworld 3 before its release, including a slider to adjust the scale of the HUD. Blackbird has also fixed an issue impacting the scaling of ships, which in the demo resulted in some ships looking far larger or smaller than they should.
Finally, Blackbird is also making some balance tweaks to War Games, including adding extra objectives to improve the variety between runs. Resources Controllers have also been made free to rebuild if destroyed during a game, however they will now take significantly longer to build.
The full blog post goes into more detail on the pre-launch changes, with the developers explaining the process of finding balance between modern gaming standards and that classic Homeworld feel. Check out everything we know about Homeworld 3 ahead of its release on PC on May 13, with advanced access from May 10.
Gaming Charity SpecialEffect Will Receive Prestigious BAFTA Special Award
BAFTA has announced that UK gaming charity SpecialEffect will be presented with its prestigious Special Award at the 20th BAFTA Games Awards this April. SpecialEffect is a charity that uses technology to improve access to video games for people with physical disabilities.
SpecialEffect was started in 2007 as a collaboration between founder Mick Donegan, a specialist in assistive technology, and his son Bill, a gamer and product designer. SpecialEffect works with game developers to create accessible hardware and improve accessibility of video game software, as well as providing one-on-one assessments and support for severely disabled gamers.
The charity now has thirty employees and raises all its own funds, often aided by high profile fundraising campaigns from industry figures including voice actors, streamers, and game developers.
“I started SpecialEffect not only to help individuals to play video games but also to collaborate with the games industry to make their games more accessible ‘at source,'” Donegan said in a statement. “Since then, we have been privileged to be invited to share our ideas with more and more developers all over the world. Now, 17 years since SpecialEffect began, it’s an absolute honour for SpecialEffect’s work to be recognised by BAFTA.”
“SpecialEffect’s work is essential to the games world and is hugely deserving of a BAFTA Special Award,” said BAFTA’s executive director of awards Emma Baehr. “Their innovative and supportive approach to making games accessible drives progress within the industry, collaborating with developers and studios on new technologies to make games within reach to more people.”
The BAFTA Special Award is awarded sporadically to people and companies who have made major contributions to the games industry. Previous recipients of the award include Epic Games, voice actor Nolan North, Uncharted director Amy Hennig, and PlayStation marketer Chris Deering.
The 20th BAFTA Games Awards will take place on April 11, 2024.
Take-Two Buys Gearbox Entertainment From Embracer For $460M
After months of rumors that Embracer Group was looking for buyers for Borderlands developer Gearbox Entertainment, the studio is now officially being sold to 2K parent company Take-Two Interactive in a deal worth $460 million.
Gearbox was one of Embracer Group’s biggest acquisitions when it bought the company in 2021, in a deal worth up to $1.3 billion. As the deal was based on Gearbox reaching certain milestones, it’s unclear how much of that $1.3 billion Embracer ended up paying out beyond $363 million in guaranteed upfront payments.
Now, as reported by Brian Crecente on X, Take-Two Interactive has purchased Gearbox for $460 million, which will be paid out in Take-Two shares. The purchase includes Gearbox Software in Texas, Gearbox Montreal, and Gearbox Studio Quebec, and will cover Gearbox IP including Borderlands and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Risk of Rain, Brothers in Arms, and Duke Nukem.
The sale doesn’t include Gearbox’s publishing arm in San Francisco, which published Remnant 2, and has publishing rights to the upcoming Hyper Light Breaker and other upcoming titles. The sale also excludes a number of studios purchased by Embracer through Gearbox Software, including Cryptic Studios, Lost Boys Interactive, and Captured Dimensions.
Take-Two has said that Gearbox will operate as a studio within 2K, which has a long history of partnering with Gearbox on the Borderlands series. Gearbox will continue to be led by its founder and CEO Randy Pitchford and his management team.
“My primary interest is always Gearbox, including our talent and our customers,” Pitchford said in a statement. “I want to personally ensure fans of our games that this arrangement will ensure that the experiences we have in development at Gearbox will be the best it can possibly be.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Randy Pitchford and his team of passionate, talented developers to 2K and we look forward to releasing numerous projects in the future as colleagues,” said David Ismailer, president of 2K. “We have loved partnering with Gearbox on every iteration of the Borderlands franchise and are excited to be in active development on the next installment in the series.”
In its own statement, Embracer co-founder and CEO Lars Wingefors refers to the divestment as part of a “transition to becoming a leaner and more focused company,” saying the transaction will “lower business risk and improve profitability.”
After a spree of large-scale acquisitions in the last few years, Embracer has now started downsizing, resulting in company-wide layoffs, cancelled games, and divestment of some of its assets. Last month it was revealed that Saber Interactive, which is currently working on the Star Wars: KOTOR remake, would split off to become an independent company, following a sale to private investors worth $500 million.
Apple Vision Pro Gets First Discount – Save $200 On The New VR Headset
The new Apple Vision Pro 256GB model is $200 off at the Amazon-owned retailer Woot, dropping the price to $3,299 (was $3,499). While that’s a modest discount, it’s also the first price drop we’re aware of for Apple’s augmented reality headset–or “spatial computer,” as Apple markets it. The deal is also notable because the Apple Vision Pro isn’t sold by Amazon, and Woot deals tend to focus on products that were first available on Amazon.
Before you rush over to Woot to grab the Apple Vision Pro, there’s one caveat: the model for sale on Woot comes with the Solo Knit Band, Dual Loop Band, and Light Seal accessories in small sizes. This could limit its wearability, so be sure to check the sizing guides on Apple’s website to confirm everything will fit.
The Apple Vision Pro launched earlier this year to positive reviews. Most reviewers laud the device’s screen, 3D video capabilities, and spatial computing features while noting room for improvement in the headset’s overall design and broader appeal. This is definitely a product for enthusiast AR, VR, and Apple fans–but if that’s you, then this discount is a great way to grab the Vision Pro at a slightly more affordable price point.
That said, you’ll want to act fast if you want one. Woot’s Apple Vision Pro deal is limited to one per customer, and is available until April 23, unless it sells out beforehand. The offer is part of the retailer’s Prime Appreciation Days event, which includes a special Video Game Favorites sale featuring deals on new games like Princess Peach: Showtime! and hardware like consoles, pro controllers, and more.
If you’re interested in VR but don’t want to drop north of $3,000, Woot has the 128GB Meta Quest 2 on sale for $189 (was $250). Alternatively, you can buy the Quest 2 directly from Amazon for $199. The Quest 2 is the best entry-level VR headset on the market. It offers great performance at its price point, and it’s significantly cheaper than the other major VR gaming headsets. For reference, the Quest 3 starts at $499 and the PlayStation VR 2 starts at $549.
The Awesome Lego Optimus Prime Is On Sale For A Stellar Price
Lego Optimus Prime from Transformers is discounted to $144 at Amazon. That’s 20% off this awesome building set’s $180 list price, which matches last year’s Black Friday deal. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this offer sell out quickly. Amazon doesn’t list an end date for the deal either, so it could disappear at any time. Lego Optimus Prime is comprised of 1,508 pieces and, much like other large-scale Lego sets, is recommended for adults and experienced builders.
What sets this particular Lego set apart from many other licensed kits of this size is that it has a level of interactivity built into it. Though you won’t be pulling off dynamic poses, you will be able to gently adjust the limbs of Optimus, equip him with his trademark ion blaster, and you can even replace his hand with his legendary Energon-Axe.
The real magic here is that Optimus can transform into his signature truck mode, easily shifting from Autobot commander to a big rig that’s ready to roll out. To get to that point is the fun part though, and with 10 bags filled with hundreds of bricks, it’ll take you just over three hours to build everyone’s favorite Cybertronian.
Once you’re done, you’ll have an Optimus Prime replica that has just the right amount of Lego flair to it, with only a few studs visible.
Mission Impossible 8 Adds Love Lies Bleeding Star
Katy O’Brian, star of A24’s Love Lies Bleeding, has been keeping busy lately. She’ll now be joining Tom Cruise and the rest of the Mission Impossible cast for the film’s eighth installment.
According to a Deadline report, not much is known about her role in the upcoming film. But she’s not the only newcomer appearing in Mission Impossible 8. The report explains that Iron Claw’s Holt McCallany, The Last of Us’ Nick Offerman, The Menu’s Janet McTeer, and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham will also join the franchise.
As previously stated, O’Brian most recently starred in Love Lies Bleeding, a film that tells the story of the dark side of the women’s bodybuilding industry. But she’s also appeared in various movies and shows, including The Mandalorian as Elia Kane and in Ant-Man 3 as Jentorra.
Mission Impossible 8 was initially scheduled to premiere later this year on June 28. But it was pushed back due to the Hollywood actor’s strike and is now set to come out next year on May 23, 2025. Despite the film being pushed back, Christopher McQuarrie is still set to direct and produce alongside Cruise.
For more entertainment news, check out our story detailing the latest cast member to join the Among Us cartoon and our story detailing everything we know about Deadpool and Wolverine.
Among Us Cartoon Adds Dan Stevens And Spider-Verse Star To Cast
The Among Us animated series may not have a home yet, but the voice cast for the adaptation of the hit video game franchise is coming together quickly. Deadline is reporting that Dan Stevens (Solar Opposites), Liv Hewson (Yellowjackets), and Kimiko Glenn (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) have all signed on to lend their voices to the show about crewmates on a starship that has been infiltrated by alien imposters
Stevens, who headlined Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and FX’s Legion, will provide the voice of Blue. Stevens was also a recent addition to the voice cast of Hulu’s Solar Opposites, where he took over the leading role, Korvo Opposites, from series co-creator Justin Roiland, who was fired from the series by Hulu following allegations of domestic violence in early 2023.
Hewson, who has a leading role as Vanessa Palmer on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, will voice Black. Glenn was cast as Cyan, and she has extensive experience with voiceover roles including parts in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Disney’s 2017 DuckTales reboot, BoJack Horseman, and Carmen Sandiego.
The descriptions for the new characters are below:
Blue (Doctor)
- Knowledgeable, charming, so hot
- Task: physical and emotional care
- Fun Fact: also has a doctorate in poetry
Black (Geologist)
- Stoic, coarse, rock-like
- Task: supervising the ore shipments
- Fun Fact: prefers rocks to people
Cyan (Gemologist)
- Healing through crystals
- Task: supervising the vibes
- Fun Fact: the vibes are bad
Earlier this month, Randall Park, Yvette Nicole Brown, Elijah Wood, and Ashley Johnson were also confirmed as cast members for the series. Infinity Train creator Own Dennis developed the Among Us animated series for CBS Studios. However, Among Us doesn’t currently have a network or streaming service lined up.
Anthony Mackie Opens Up About The MCU’s Creative Limitations
Anthony Mackie, best known for his role as The Falcon-turned-Captain America in Disney’s MCU, stated that it can be difficult to experiment in Marvel films because “there’s only so much you can do.”
In an interview with RadioTimes, Mackie was asked about working on Marvel projects vs. Peacock’s Twisted Metal. He then explained that working with Marvel differs because “it’s such a space of controlled entertainment.”
“Like, there’s only so much you can do. There’s only so much creativity you can bring to the table because Stan Lee gave us so much content,” Mackie said. “Whereas with this [Twisted Metal], it was like, ‘There’s a guy and a girl go.’ So we were really able to build the world around it.”
As the interview continued, Mackie explained that he felt that a large reason Twisted Metal did well was that there was nothing tied to his character, so it allowed him to try more things. At the same time, the writing and directing team managed to “stay true to the characters in the video games.”
Mackie added that this process is dramatically different to the one used in the MCU, as once a character is introduced in it has to “coincide with what Stan had already gave us.” Mackie continues that although this may be a challenge, “it’s an interesting juggle to be a part of that world.” And this was more like, ‘Let’s just have fun and figure it out as we go.'”
Season 1 of Twisted Metal debuted in 2023, and upon its release, it was an immediate hit for Peacock. Because of the show’s success, it’s already been confirmed for another season.
Call Of Duty’s New BlackCell Operator Is One Of The Flashiest Yet
Each new Call of Duty season typically brings with it another BlackCell DLC bundle, and that trend continues with the upcoming debut of Season 3 on April 3. This newest BlackCell DLC bundle comes with a variety of cosmetic items that will make your character really stand out.
BlackCell DLC bundles are known for their animated skins, and this will be the case again. The new Stasis operator is decked out with shimmering gold and vertical glyph streams. Beyond the animated elements, the operator bundle includes a “glitch-wear mask” and teal blue accents. Here’s what the skin looks like, though the animation effects are not yet clear.
As usual, everyone who buys the BlackCell bundle gets instant access to the BlackCell-specific part of the general Season 3 battle pass map. This includes 20 Battle Token tier skips that should help players unlock other content faster.
In addition to the Stasis operator, the BlackCell Season 3 bundle comes with immediate access to the Aggressive Action frag grenade with its own unique death effect, the Double Barrel Disrespect finishing move, the All that Glitters BlackCell animated blueprint for the BAS-B battle rifle with its own unique death effects, and an allotment of 1,100 COD Points (about $10 USD).
BlackCell DLC bundles typically cost around $30, so that’s the price point we’re expecting for this newest offering for Season 3.
The standard Season 3 battle pass, meanwhile, has 110 items up for grabs, and these are available to everyone who grinds for them, including BlackCell owners. And everyone who buys the standard battle pass and then upgrades to BlackCell will get 1,100 COD Points.
Season 3 is the first new season since Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile released on March 21. As announced previously, player progress and all store bundles bought on one platform carry over to another, so you can grind on console, for example, and your progress and purchases will also be applied to mobile. However, COD Points do not move between platforms.
For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything coming to Call of Duty in the Season 3 update, including a bunch of 4/20-themed content and a mode that turns fallen foes into mines.
New CoD Mode Turns Dead Enemies Into Your Worst Nightmare
Activision has announced more details on Call of Duty’s upcoming Season 3 update, and among the new additions is a mode called “Minefield.” In a blog post, Activision said fans can think of this like “multiplayer but with mines,” and it sounds like things can get pretty chaotic.
Available for the Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint modes, Minefield employs those modes’ rules but with one key change. Every time you kill an enemy, a proximity mine is plunged onto the ground where the enemy player died.
The mine is immovable and is deadly to all enemy players. Activision said as the match progresses, these mines will combine to create a literal minefield that can “ramp up the action to a cacophony of chaos.” This sounds reminiscent of the Martyrdom perk from previous Call of Duty games where your character dropped a live grenade when they were killed.
Another mode heading to Modern Warfare III’s multiplayer is Escort. First seen within Call of Duty: Warzone, Escort has one team protecting a vehicle as it makes its way across a map. The opposing side is trying to stop that from happening. Both teams have unlimited respawns, and players switch sides in this round-based mode.
Finally, the fan-favorite Vortex playlist returns to Modern Warfare III during Season 3, featuring the supernatural-themed maps Airborne, Satan’s Quarry, Skidgrow, Sporeyard, and Tetanus. New for Season 3 is an Arcade Mode modifier, featuring “gameplay modifiers” that Activision said it will reveal later on. An event called Vortex Vir.Rus Mainframe is launching with this new playlist.
These modes and playlists will be available in Modern Warfare III sometime mid-season, so they won’t be there at launch come April 3. But Warzone brings back Rebirth Island that day, and Modern Warfare III adds the brand-new multiplayer maps 6 Star and Emergency.
For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything coming to Call of Duty in the Season 3 update, including a bunch of 4/20-themed content.