A Steam update for Homeworld 3 that took place on October 25 reportedly removed the controversial third-party anti-tampering DRM (Digital Rights Management) software Denuvo. Homeworld 3 has been out since May of this year, and while it has vast space battles and great cutscenes, it has also failed to take flight as originally expected.

When Homeworld 3‘s release window and gameplay footage were revealed back in 2022, many fans of the franchise were excited about the new possibilities this title would offer. And while many players still feel positive about it, the game has had a bumpy road since it was first released.

Related

BioWare Has Good News for Dragon Age: The Veilguard Players on PC

BioWare announces some incredible news for gamers who intend to play the upcoming fantasy RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard on PC.

After a recent Steam update for Homeworld 3 that went live on October 25, players noticed that the Denuvo label on the game’s page was gone. Earlier this year, Denuvo was blamed for the outage that rendered Persona 5 Royal unplayable. And while it was later confirmed by the company that its software had nothing to do with the issue, it speaks volumes about players’ sentiment towards the anti-tampering solution. Whether Blackbird Interactive will ever confirm that the removal of the DRM was done to attract more potential players is still unknown.

Homeworld 3 Removes Denuvo in Recent Steam Update

Almost six months after its release, Homeworld 3 has not been able to recover from public opinion, as it has mixed reviews on Steam, but the lifetime reviews are mostly negative. This comes as a result of the current state of the game, which reportedly needs some work in terms of organization and how it allows players to strategize. In fact, according to PCGamesN, while Homeworld 3 registered over 9,000 players on launch day, it currently only averages about 60 concurrent ones.

The free November update for the game will supposedly include new game modes and material, providing a much-needed course correction given the concurrent player base. Whether more updates will be released in the future and how long they will take to come out is uncertain, as Blackbird Interactive has prioritized its staff’s health over development efforts in the past.

Denuvo has commented on toxic gamers in the past and on the attitude many have towards its anti-tampering software, which has been a staple for years to prevent piracy and unlicensed game distribution. Although most players’ complaints about Homeworld 3 are related to the gameplay and how it feels too cluttered to allow for strategic planning, the removal of Denuvo likely won’t hurt given the gaming community’s feelings towards the software.

Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the award-winning story unfolds on a galactic scale.

Strategic freedom is yours. Hulking space derelicts called megaliths bring 3D terrain into the classic Homeworld battlespace. Use the crumbling remains of an ancient civilization to funnel foes into a brilliant ambush or hide your fleet from powerful enemies. Fortresses teem with menacing turrets and invite your strike craft into dangerous trench runs deep behind enemy lines. But not everything is in your control. Dangerous space phenomena like particle storms and asteroid fields will test even senior commanders.

Attack head-on, with a clever flank, or even from above and below your foes. Homeworld 3’s fully simulated ballistics make line of sight and cover critical strategic considerations. Your fleet persists from mission to mission. Scars on your ships linger. Strike craft pilots and capital ship captains pass along critical information through battlefield chatter.

Systems

Franchise

Homeworld

Released

May 13, 2024

Developer(s)

Blackbird Interactive

Publisher(s)

Gearbox Publishing

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

e

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Expand