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Gearbox Software has acquired the rights to the Homeworld IP in the final wave of auctions following THQ’s closure.
The Borderlands 2 developer paid $1.35m (£886,375) for the IP, fending off bids from TeamPixel, LLC and Paradox Interactive, who says it intends to re-release the original two Homeworld titles on digital platforms.
“Brian Martel, Gearbox Software’s chief creative officer, has great love and respect for Relic’s brilliant, fun and innovative game and personally spearheaded the acquisition,” wrote the developer on its website.
“Brian intends as first priority to direct Gearbox’s interest to preserve and assemble the purest form of the original acclaimed and beloved games, Homeworld and Homeworld 2, with the intent of making them accessible on today’s leading digital platforms.”
Meanwhile, Nordic Games – whose publishing labels include JoWood Entertainment – acquired the rights to Darksiders, Red Faction, Destroy All Humans, MX vs ATV, Supreme Commander and more for $4.9m (£3.217,383), with Sniper Elite V2 publisher 505 Games picking up Drawn To Life and Drawn To Life: The Next Chapter for £300,000 (£196,982).
Gearbox’s acquisition will come as a disappointment to series creators Relic Entertainment.
In an article published yesterday, Relic’s Quinn Duffy told VideoGamer.com that he would “love [Homeworld] to come home to its spiritual home back here at Relic,” and that he “would be disappointed if it was anywhere else“.
“It just feels like it belongs to Relic,” he added.
Relic Entertainment was acquired by SEGA during THQ’s first assets auction earlier in the year. It isn’t known whether SEGA or Relic made a bid for the Homeworld IP.
Source: Yahoo, Gearbox Software
