Get an intimate look at the creation of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak and learn how the team at Blackbird Interactive brought the feeling of Homeworld to the deserts of Kharak in this behind-the-scenes developer diary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVh_E657bFA

Get an intimate look at the creation of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak and learn how the team at Blackbird Interactive brought the feeling of Homeworld to the deserts of Kharak in this behind-the-scenes developer diary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVh_E657bFA

General

• Fixed asteroid collision avoidance on all MP maps making them vastly easier to navigate through.
  
• Fixed a potential memory leak when playing animatics.
  
• Fixes to kicking lagging players.
  Fixed issues with some CPU controlled Homeworld 1 Resource Controllers not remaining stationary when supporting Resource Collectors.
  
• Addressed an issue where compatibility with some Homeworld 2 Classic Mods was broken after the most recent patch.
  
• Fixed a rare crash in Homeworld Remastered.

Various minor UI fixes

• Added a Drag icon to resize research menu.
  
• The research queue menu item will no longer block mouse input.
  
• 1 cost research items were still being displayed in some cases.

Modder support

• Changed the name of the DefenseShield to MagneticField and added new features to it.

General

• Fixed asteroid collision avoidance on all MP maps making them vastly easier to navigate through.
  
• Fixed a potential memory leak when playing animatics.
  
• Fixes to kicking lagging players.
  Fixed issues with some CPU controlled Homeworld 1 Resource Controllers not remaining stationary when supporting Resource Collectors.
  
• Addressed an issue where compatibility with some Homeworld 2 Classic Mods was broken after the most recent patch.
  
• Fixed a rare crash in Homeworld Remastered.

Various minor UI fixes

• Added a Drag icon to resize research menu.
  
• The research queue menu item will no longer block mouse input.
  
• 1 cost research items were still being displayed in some cases.

Modder support

• Changed the name of the DefenseShield to MagneticField and added new features to it.

Modder Support

• Strike-groups are referenced by Name, not Index - UI 100% dynamic.
  
• Added new UI control - Context Menu.
  
• Ships can have more than two build queues now!
  
• Major restructuring for Game Rules, Levels, Races, Ships, etc.
  o Game Rules can filter Races/Levels.
  o Campaigns can assign custom Game Rules.
  o Levels now organized with a “.levels” file - loose levels ignored.
  o Mods can filter content on load as well.
  o Ships can load props with Game Rules override.
  o Added optional DefenseShield sob to ships.

Game Setup Chat Improvements

• Added shorthand whisper command “/w”.
  
• Changed “/ignore” and “/unignore” to “/mute” and “/unmute”.
  
• Added auto complete of player names when typing “/” commands.
  
• Players can right-click a player name to quickly whisper, invite, and mute / unmute a player.
  
• Added whisper received audio event.
  
• “/” commands are better formatted while typing them in (/whisper Bob will resolve to “Bob:” when you start typing the message).
  
• Chat color format commands will now switch to the color after they are terminated (<c=ff0000> will make the text you are typing Red while you are typing).
  
• If a player is dropped they are now removed from the chat channel correctly.
  
• Players now have a state in the chat screen (AFK, InLobby, InGame).
  
• Added “/r” and “/reply” to reply to the last person who whispered you.
  
• Backspace, right/left arrows, home key, del key now work properly in the chat edit box!
  
• “/invite” command added.
  
• When a player hovers over the in-chat invite, the game will highlight.
  
• Help pop-up will be displayed above chat input box when the player types “/”.
  
• Player list is now sorted based on state. Global Chat -> Game Lobby -> AFK -> in-game ->muted.
  o Players have state icon next to their name as well.
  
• Added settings option to disable or enable leave / join notification messages in chat.
  
• Chat text length bumped from 128 to 200 characters.
  
• Holding the "ALT" key and typing in a unicode character number will enter that character in text input fields (assuming that character exists in the font).

Game Setup Screen

• AI players are now removed before human players when the upcoming map is smaller than the number of players in the lobby.
  
• Fixed an issue where changing game types might not cause the first map to be re-selected, causing improper data to display for it.
  
• Added "Random" race selection based on Race.groupings. (HW1 Random, HW2 Random).
  
• Fixes bug where a player could click the ready button in any slot in some situations.

UI

• Game will now ignore mouse input when the game window is not in focus.
  
• Added ability for custom ATI configurations.
  
• Countdown for applying graphical changes now formats properly.

Misc

• Fixed issue where sensors would have invisible headings and sensor blobs when UI effects were turned off.
  
• ATI for unknown / inactive resources has it's string set to "".
  
• Custom levels no longer download to hard drive when joining a server.
  o Helps reduce problem with players swapping out an official map with a custom map that would give them an unfair advantage.
  
• Trails fade off when a ship docks with another (Instead of just disappearing).
  
• Defense Field Frigate FX now displays properly!
  
• Shift-click for build cancel button will cancel the last 5 build jobs for the selected queue.
  
• Fixed issue where a build job hitting the unit cap would stall a queue. It now promotes the first valid ship it encounters to replace the stalled ship.
  
• In-game chat box no longer overlaps game timer.
  
• “Player is lagging” screen has been redesigned to be much less intrusive.
  
• In-game chat screen chat formatting overhauled to be more consistent with frontend global chat screen.
  
• In-game chat screen supports /team and /playername shortcuts properly.
  
• HUD elements can now be individually scaled through the settings screen!
  
• Removed period from end of destroyer name in Italian.
  
• Fixed missing German subtitles that could happen in HW2 Mission3.
  
• Animatic timing issues in all languages adjusted to match English VO properly.
  
• HW1 Mission 9 - Alien Anomaly tool tip is now translated properly.
  
• Fixed a potential crash if mission scripting tried to dock a unit with a ship that did not exist.
  
• “Attack Run” flight behavior now able to take weapon rotation limits into account, not always attack head-on, break with timer.
  o minBreakDelay/maxBreakDelay - allow time delay for breaks, instead of distance.
  o approachAngle/approachFloor - allow target position adjustment for weapon swivel (angle), based on minimum engagement distance (floor).

Modder Support

• Strike-groups are referenced by Name, not Index - UI 100% dynamic.
  
• Added new UI control - Context Menu.
  
• Ships can have more than two build queues now!
  
• Major restructuring for Game Rules, Levels, Races, Ships, etc.
  o Game Rules can filter Races/Levels.
  o Campaigns can assign custom Game Rules.
  o Levels now organized with a “.levels” file - loose levels ignored.
  o Mods can filter content on load as well.
  o Ships can load props with Game Rules override.
  o Added optional DefenseShield sob to ships.

Game Setup Chat Improvements

• Added shorthand whisper command “/w”.
  
• Changed “/ignore” and “/unignore” to “/mute” and “/unmute”.
  
• Added auto complete of player names when typing “/” commands.
  
• Players can right-click a player name to quickly whisper, invite, and mute / unmute a player.
  
• Added whisper received audio event.
  
• “/” commands are better formatted while typing them in (/whisper Bob will resolve to “Bob:” when you start typing the message).
  
• Chat color format commands will now switch to the color after they are terminated (<c=ff0000> will make the text you are typing Red while you are typing).
  
• If a player is dropped they are now removed from the chat channel correctly.
  
• Players now have a state in the chat screen (AFK, InLobby, InGame).
  
• Added “/r” and “/reply” to reply to the last person who whispered you.
  
• Backspace, right/left arrows, home key, del key now work properly in the chat edit box!
  
• “/invite” command added.
  
• When a player hovers over the in-chat invite, the game will highlight.
  
• Help pop-up will be displayed above chat input box when the player types “/”.
  
• Player list is now sorted based on state. Global Chat -> Game Lobby -> AFK -> in-game ->muted.
  o Players have state icon next to their name as well.
  
• Added settings option to disable or enable leave / join notification messages in chat.
  
• Chat text length bumped from 128 to 200 characters.
  
• Holding the "ALT" key and typing in a unicode character number will enter that character in text input fields (assuming that character exists in the font).

Game Setup Screen

• AI players are now removed before human players when the upcoming map is smaller than the number of players in the lobby.
  
• Fixed an issue where changing game types might not cause the first map to be re-selected, causing improper data to display for it.
  
• Added "Random" race selection based on Race.groupings. (HW1 Random, HW2 Random).
  
• Fixes bug where a player could click the ready button in any slot in some situations.

UI

• Game will now ignore mouse input when the game window is not in focus.
  
• Added ability for custom ATI configurations.
  
• Countdown for applying graphical changes now formats properly.

Misc

• Fixed issue where sensors would have invisible headings and sensor blobs when UI effects were turned off.
  
• ATI for unknown / inactive resources has it's string set to "".
  
• Custom levels no longer download to hard drive when joining a server.
  o Helps reduce problem with players swapping out an official map with a custom map that would give them an unfair advantage.
  
• Trails fade off when a ship docks with another (Instead of just disappearing).
  
• Defense Field Frigate FX now displays properly!
  
• Shift-click for build cancel button will cancel the last 5 build jobs for the selected queue.
  
• Fixed issue where a build job hitting the unit cap would stall a queue. It now promotes the first valid ship it encounters to replace the stalled ship.
  
• In-game chat box no longer overlaps game timer.
  
• “Player is lagging” screen has been redesigned to be much less intrusive.
  
• In-game chat screen chat formatting overhauled to be more consistent with frontend global chat screen.
  
• In-game chat screen supports /team and /playername shortcuts properly.
  
• HUD elements can now be individually scaled through the settings screen!
  
• Removed period from end of destroyer name in Italian.
  
• Fixed missing German subtitles that could happen in HW2 Mission3.
  
• Animatic timing issues in all languages adjusted to match English VO properly.
  
• HW1 Mission 9 - Alien Anomaly tool tip is now translated properly.
  
• Fixed a potential crash if mission scripting tried to dock a unit with a ship that did not exist.
  
• “Attack Run” flight behavior now able to take weapon rotation limits into account, not always attack head-on, break with timer.
  o minBreakDelay/maxBreakDelay - allow time delay for breaks, instead of distance.
  o approachAngle/approachFloor - allow target position adjustment for weapon swivel (angle), based on minimum engagement distance (floor).

New Content!

• Added the long-lost Raider Retreat mission! This mission can be accessed in the new “Extra Missions” menu. Click here for more info.
  
  • Added Achievement for completing the Raider Retreat mission.
• Added Global Chat to the server browser and lobby chat

Fixes and Updates

• Don't display the RU's for a resource if the starting RU's are 0
  
• Objective pointer lines should now be better aligned
  
• Misc. audio updates from Paul Ruskay
  
• The diplomacy panel is now properly updated to remove the player after disconnections
  
• "Unknown level" text is now properly displayed for clients if the host uses a custom map
  
• Fixed issue where certain letters in foreign languages would not properly display
  
• The distance filter is now available on the main server selection screen
  
• Fixed an issue where list boxes would sometimes wrap incorrectly
  
• Dust clouds are now selectable “move to object” destinations
  
• Added chat commands:
  
  /whisper <name> <message>
  /ignore <name>
  /unignore <name>

Modder Updates and Additions

• Created TabControl Interface Element to streamline menus such as the options menu
  
• customFormationID was not initialized properly which would possibly be garbage when spawning ships in a map
  
• UI - Screen anchors now refresh on screen activate
  
• UI - Created new "mirror" anchor type that copies rect and visibility of another element
  
• Added concept of "Extra Missions" that should allow modders to create custom campaign missions without having to edit the UI or jump through unnecessary hoops
  
  • Added support for mission entries in a campaign file to define either a flag saying the persist file from the persist directory should be loaded, or a path indicating what persist file from a save game in the saved campaign data directory should be loaded
    
  • Added the ability to define a "StartingPlayerFleet.lua" file in a mission directory and have it be loaded if it is there and a persistent fleet is not loaded via the command line prompt of the override that loads a previous saved missions persistent fleet
• Added command line option "-noMouseCap" so that the game doesn't steal mouse input on the first frame

New Content!

• Added the long-lost Raider Retreat mission! This mission can be accessed in the new “Extra Missions” menu. Click here for more info.
  
  • Added Achievement for completing the Raider Retreat mission.
• Added Global Chat to the server browser and lobby chat

Fixes and Updates

• Don't display the RU's for a resource if the starting RU's are 0
  
• Objective pointer lines should now be better aligned
  
• Misc. audio updates from Paul Ruskay
  
• The diplomacy panel is now properly updated to remove the player after disconnections
  
• "Unknown level" text is now properly displayed for clients if the host uses a custom map
  
• Fixed issue where certain letters in foreign languages would not properly display
  
• The distance filter is now available on the main server selection screen
  
• Fixed an issue where list boxes would sometimes wrap incorrectly
  
• Dust clouds are now selectable “move to object” destinations
  
• Added chat commands:
  
  /whisper <name> <message>
  /ignore <name>
  /unignore <name>

Modder Updates and Additions

• Created TabControl Interface Element to streamline menus such as the options menu
  
• customFormationID was not initialized properly which would possibly be garbage when spawning ships in a map
  
• UI - Screen anchors now refresh on screen activate
  
• UI - Created new "mirror" anchor type that copies rect and visibility of another element
  
• Added concept of "Extra Missions" that should allow modders to create custom campaign missions without having to edit the UI or jump through unnecessary hoops
  
  • Added support for mission entries in a campaign file to define either a flag saying the persist file from the persist directory should be loaded, or a path indicating what persist file from a save game in the saved campaign data directory should be loaded
    
  • Added the ability to define a "StartingPlayerFleet.lua" file in a mission directory and have it be loaded if it is there and a persistent fleet is not loaded via the command line prompt of the override that loads a previous saved missions persistent fleet
• Added command line option "-noMouseCap" so that the game doesn't steal mouse input on the first frame

Balance

• Ships now properly stop attacking when the ship they were attacking is salvage captured.
  
• Fixed some values for Homeworld 1 cloaking ability to restore them to the same timing they were prior to the last patch.
  
• Made the hyperspace time to exit honor the update rate of the game simulation. Ships should no longer over/under shoot their destinations.
  
• Guard logic fixed so that ships that guard other ships now properly move and guard as one would expect.
  
• Updated the guard command to use the tactics of the ship to determine how it behaves while guarding.
  
• Fixed an issue where ships assigned to guard could stop if ship they were guarding engaged in combat when the guarding ship was outside of guard range.
  
• Set build time of the first Taiidan Research Ship back to what was originally shipped (60s)

Misc

• Fixed an issue where certain key binding descriptions were read incorrectly from the player config file which caused some keybindings to fail to load.
  
• Fixed a save game issue that would happen if some ships used by mission scripting were destroyed before a game was saved.
  
• Fixed an issue where creating a profile after one exists, then deleting that profile and creating it again would cause a crash.
  
• Fixed mouse blocking issue when player clicked near timer.
  
• Various fixes for crashes found in Steam crash dumps.
  
• UI speed optimizations
  
• Fixed clipped/hidden "show all" build menu items.

Modders

• Text display Top/Bottom alignment inversion issue fixed

Balance

• Ships now properly stop attacking when the ship they were attacking is salvage captured.
  
• Fixed some values for Homeworld 1 cloaking ability to restore them to the same timing they were prior to the last patch.
  
• Made the hyperspace time to exit honor the update rate of the game simulation. Ships should no longer over/under shoot their destinations.
  
• Guard logic fixed so that ships that guard other ships now properly move and guard as one would expect.
  
• Updated the guard command to use the tactics of the ship to determine how it behaves while guarding.
  
• Fixed an issue where ships assigned to guard could stop if ship they were guarding engaged in combat when the guarding ship was outside of guard range.
  
• Set build time of the first Taiidan Research Ship back to what was originally shipped (60s)

Misc

• Fixed an issue where certain key binding descriptions were read incorrectly from the player config file which caused some keybindings to fail to load.
  
• Fixed a save game issue that would happen if some ships used by mission scripting were destroyed before a game was saved.
  
• Fixed an issue where creating a profile after one exists, then deleting that profile and creating it again would cause a crash.
  
• Fixed mouse blocking issue when player clicked near timer.
  
• Various fixes for crashes found in Steam crash dumps.
  
• UI speed optimizations
  
• Fixed clipped/hidden "show all" build menu items.

Modders

• Text display Top/Bottom alignment inversion issue fixed