Good Old Games, the internet’s premiere website for getting older, well-regarded games, is now offering Homeworld: Emergence as part of the Homeworld franchise of games. Emergence is a re-naming of Homeworld: Cataclysm, originally an expansion pack and sequel to the original Homeworld game (and also one of its scariest.)
Emergence hasn’t been available for the past 17 years ever since the license for it was lost. However, to show that miracles can happen, the game has finally been found and put back on the market (though it’s only available on Good Old Games so far, and isn’t available on Steam.)
The reason for the name change is due to an issue with Blizzard, who have trademarked the name “Cataclysm” when it comes to video gaming for their Cataclysm expansion pack in World of Warcraft. In order to avoid a legal kerfuffle, Gearbox (who owns the Homeworld license) allowed them to keep Cataclysm and instead renamed the game to Homeworld: Emergence.
Homeworld: Cataclysm is the story of Kiith Somtaaw, a clan of Hiigaran miners that make a horrific discovery and unleash a biological plague called “The Beast” onto the galaxy. With the Beast possessing and consuming anything it comes across and slowly building a hive-minded fleet, the Somtaaw miners must try and right the wrong, and save the galaxy from a horrific fate.
Homeworld: Emergence is currently being sold on Good Old Games alongside the other Homeworld games; Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, and the two remastered Homeworld games, Homeworld and Homeworld 2. Homeworld 2 is seen by many fans of the series as a disappointment compared to the first and Cataclysm, but now you can experience the entire series.
Currently Homeworld: Emergence is available $8.99 on Good Old Games, so it’s a steal if you buy it and already have the other Homeworld games. However, those are also on sale, both for 66% off their original prices.
