Homeworld 3 was announced way back in 2019 alongside a Fig crowdfunding campaign that brought in over $1.5 million after 30 days. Since then, backers have received periodic updates to let them know that development proceeds apace even though the pandemic may have slowed things down slightly.
Fig works a little differently than Kickstarter, though. In addition to letting backers essentially pre-order the game even before the game has been developed, Fig also offers the opportunity to invest in a game's development to share in its future potential profits.
Not every Fig crowdfunded game opts to allow investments, but it can be a nice way for developers to net a little extra cash to get their game started. This is exactly what Gearbox Publishing did for Homeworld 3.
However, it seems that the Embracer purchase may have thrown a wrench in the Fig investment scheme. Homeworld 3 backers recently received an email telling them their investment reservations for Homeworld 3 had been canceled due Gearbox's "recent changes" in ownership.
"As you may be aware, there have been recent changes at Gearbox,” the email reads. “Due to these developments, Fig will no longer be collecting investment reservations for Homeworld 3, and all investors that placed an investment reservation in Homeworld 3 will NOT have that investment collected. Rest assured knowing that Fig never charged you for your investment reservation and that this will not affect Homeworld 3 pre-orders.”
The email clarifies that backers will still get their copy of Homeworld 3 when the game arrives, but potential investors will no longer be able to share in the game’s profits.
As GamesIndustry.biz notes, this isn't the first time a game developer has been purchased in the middle of a Fig crowdfunding campaign. Both Double Fine and InXile were purchased by Microsoft during the development of Psychonauts 2 and Wasteland 3, respectively. Rather than cancel investor reservations, the Microsoft purchase actually led to early payouts.
Fig CEO Jim Bailey told GamesIndustry.biz that the difference with Homeworld is that the Embracer acquisition took place before the investment scheme had a chance to kick in, whereas the Microsoft purchase took place afterward.
Homeworld 3 hasn't been confirmed for E3 2021, but Gearbox has set up a new website for a Borderlands spinoff game that might be based on Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon's Keep.