In what must have been an emotional moment for the former Relic Entertainment members at Blackbird Interactive, Gearbox Software recently acquired their former IP, the critically acclaimed and much-beloved Homeworld franchise. Today, Blackbird Interactive is announcing their heartfelt congratulations to Gearbox, with both kind words from Blackbird Interactive's CEO Rob Cunningham, and previously unreleased Homeworld 2 concept art from Cunningham's personal archive, which you can view below.

"Blackbird Interactive would like to show their support in stewardship of Gearbox in their future plans for the IP," Cunningham said. "As co-founders of Relic Entertainment, Homeworld is very dear to our hearts.

"Homeworld gave us a great foundation in the industry and established Relic as a world class studio.” Cunningham continued. “We are excited for our friends and colleagues at Gearbox to show us and the world what lies in store in the next chapter of the Homeworld saga.”

DualShockers recently interviewed Blackbird Interactive's producer Daniel Irish, who started as a fan of Homeworld before his passion led him to join the team in time for Homeworld 2. Blackbird Interactive is now working on a new RTS, Hardware: Shipbreakers, which centers around treasure hunters descending onto a desert planet full of wrecked starships and buried ruins in search of fortune.