Gearbox Software has just announced that Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, their first completely new entry in the franchise since acquiring the rights, will arrive in the new year on January 20. The game is being developed by Blackbird Interactive who consist of veterans of Relic Entertainment that had previously work on the original Homeworld games as well as Company of Heroes.

Previously known as HARDWARE: Shipbreakers and later Homeworld: Shipbreakers, the game is a prequel that goes deep into the original game’s lore and the events that ultimately lead to the building of the original game’s mothership.

From the video (see below), you can see that the game appears to be taking many of the RTS aspects of the original titles and translating them nicely to ground level. And just so it isn’t distancing itself too far from the source material, it looks like you get to command a huge and awesome looking land based carrier (ie. mothership) too.

People who preorder the game on Steam will get the Homeworld Remastered Collection as a bonus. Existing owners can get a 20% discount on the game preorder. Either way it’s an early Christmas win for me.

The game will be available for PC only.