Blackbird Interactive has announced that it has acquired the full rights to the Hardspace: Shipbreaker IP from original publisher Focus Entertainment, and that “multiple” projects related to the property are currently in development.
Per a post on the game’s Steam page, Blackbird Interactive now “fully owns and controls” the IP, and it’s “going to become a core part” of the studio’s business strategy in the future. If you’ve been hoping for followups to the game, this seems like pretty great news for you.
In fact, Blackbird says that “multiple Hardspace projects are already in development”, and that while the studio isn’t ready to share specifics for those projects yet, Blackbird is focused on making sure the next Hardspace games “expand on the original game in all the right ways”.
In order to reflect Blackbird’s ownership of the Hardspace IP, Shipbreaker will be getting a small update, mainly including things like “updated splash screens, logos, and privacy policies”. If you spot an update for your game, now you know what it is.
Blackbird is quick to reassure players that this won’t mean anything in terms of access for Hardspace: Shipbreaker; you’ll still be able to play it if you own it on Steam or anywhere else.
If you want your say on how future Hardspace projects should go, as well as the chance to potentially playtest new games as and when those tests become available, Blackbird recommends you sign up for something it’s calling the LYNX Pioneer Program.
The program will offer “exclusive playtests” of new Hardspace games, as well as “behind-the-scenes development updates” and “opportunities to help shape Blackbird Interactive’s next generation of games”.
According to Blackbird, the split with Focus Interactive isn’t acrimonious. The studio thanks Focus for its “partnership and willingness” to work alongside Blackbird in order to transfer IP ownership smoothly.
If you’re yet to check out Hardspace: Shipbreaker, you can do so right now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
