Meet Era One: The Homeworld Legacy Reborn in Early Access

I still remember my first Homeworld session—commanding sleek vessels through a three-dimensional void, juggling resources and sweating over every tactical choice. When Team Complex, the veteran modders behind Homeworld 2’s acclaimed Complex mod and the Homeworld Remastered Collection, first teased Era One, my pulse quickened. Now, with Early Access on PC less than a month away, we’re finally on the brink of true base building, intense real-time tactics, and the authentic scale that the genre has long yearned for.

Who’s Behind Era One?

Era One is the passion project of Team Complex, the same crew that breathed new life into Homeworld 2 and helped steer Homeworld Remastered toward modern audiences. Unshackled from old engine constraints and publisher mandates, they’ve built a standalone space RTS from the ground up. What sets them apart is a relentless focus on player feedback—every week, the team pores over suggestions on Discord and Steam forums, turning our ideas into in-game prototypes.

Drawing on years of modding experience, Team Complex has demonstrated an uncanny ability to blend polished visuals with deeply layered gameplay. If their past work is any indication, Era One will deliver the handcrafted feel of a mod with the stability and polish of a full retail release.

Demo Now, Early Access in July 2025

A free demo debuted during Steam Next Fest in June 2025, offering a taste of both base-building and fleet management. Early testers praised the intuitive building tools and the pinpoint controls in 3D space. With full Early Access slated for July 2025 on Steam, now is the perfect time to hop aboard, experiment with blueprints, and share your feedback. The developers have already rolled out multiple patches based on demo-phase bug reports, so your input today could shape tomorrow’s factions and modules.

Key Features to Watch

Modular Base and Ship Construction

Era One features a LEGO-like toolkit for both bases and starships. Want a swift frigate with pivoting rear thrusters? Snap it together. Craving a colossal dreadnought with layered hangar bays? Just stack the modules. Each component—hull segment, power generator, resource extractor, weapon turret—affects mass, energy output, shield coverage, and maneuverability.

This system turns design into a strategic art form. A small fighter might zip in and out of asteroid belts, while a heavy destroyer trades agility for firepower. You’ll constantly tweak your blueprints to counter specific enemy tactics, creating a personalized fleet that reflects your play style.

Resource Management & Survival

• Harvest ore from asteroid fields and scavenge derelict wrecks.
• Balance power between production lines, shields, and thrusters.
• Build coolant loops and heat vents to prevent system overloads.
• Upgrade or retrofit aging vessels before the next enemy wave.

Era One’s survival layer elevates resource management beyond simple gather-and-spend loops. You’ll need to plan supply routes, defend chokepoints with static turrets, and maintain production amid enemy raids. Every decision—like whether to dispatch a salvage frigate into a danger zone—carries real risk and reward.

Real-Time 3D Tactics

Engage in fully navigable three-dimensional combat where positioning is everything. Flank enemy formations along the vertical axis, exploit gravity wells for surprise ambushes, or focus-fire vulnerable subsystems. Era One rewards strategic coordination—breaking an enemy’s shields with precision strikes can be more effective than unleashing a barrage of missiles.

The camera is fully free-look, letting you zoom in on fighter skirmishes or pull back for an all-encompassing tactical overview. Adaptive controls and customizable hotkeys ensure you stay in command even when battles heat up.

Community and Mod Support

True to their modding roots, Team Complex plans robust workshop integration at launch. Early Access will include tools for creating custom campaigns, new ship modules, and even scenario editors. Fans can share creations directly through Steam Workshop, turning Era One into a living sandbox. Whether you want to script epic fleet engagements or design your own alien architectures, the mod scene promises to breathe fresh life into every playthrough.

Why Space RTS Fans Can’t Miss This

For years, the space RTS genre has sputtered—sequels delayed, projects abandoned, ambitions left unfulfilled. Era One arrives with genuine pedigree and a hunger to innovate. Its engineering depth recalls the creative assembly lines of Factorio, while its survival nuance brings to mind Oxygen Not Included’s layered challenges. All of this unfolds against a backdrop of epic, interstellar warfare.

If Team Complex nails the balance between base building, fleet tactics, and resource strategy, Era One could reignite the scene. Imagine custom campaigns, modded factions, and even competitive leagues streamed to millions of viewers. The potential for community-driven content is enormous, and Early Access players will be at the forefront of it all.

Conclusion

Era One isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a bold evolution of space strategy. From customizable shipyards to dynamic 3D fleet engagements and resource-driven survival mechanics, its Early Access launch marks a milestone for RTS enthusiasts. There will be bumps along the way—unfinished features, balance tweaks, and interface improvements. But if you’ve ever wanted to oversee both the blueprints and the battle plan, now’s your chance to jump in, share feedback, and watch this ambitious vision take flight.